Protective effect of Phyllanthus fraternus against carbon tetrachloride-induced mitochondrial dysfunction

The effect of carbon tetrachloride administration on liver mitochondrial fu nction and the protective effect of an aqueous extract of Phyllanthus frate rnus were studied in rats. The following changes were observed in mitochond ria due to the administration of carbon tetrachloride. 1) A decrease in the rate of respiration, respiratory control ratio and P/O ratio using glutama te and malate or succinate as substrates. 2) A decrease In the activities o f NADH dehydrogenase (35%), succinate dehydrogenase (76%) and cytochrome c oxidase (51%). The rate of electron transfer through site I, site Il and si te III was studied independently and found to be significantly decreased. 3 ) A decrease in the content of cytochrome aa(3) (34%). 4) A significant dec rease in the severs of phospholipids particularly cardiolipin and a signifi cant increase in the lipid peroxide level was observed. The carbon tetrachl oride induced toxicity may be partly due to the lipid peroxidation and part ly due to the effect on protein synthesis. Administration of rats with an a queous extract of P. fraternus prior to carbon tetrachloride administration showed significant protection on the carbon tetrachloride induced mitochon drial dysfunction on all the parameters studied.