Hepatoprotective effect of a protein-enriched fraction from the maggots (Musca domestica) against CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats.

The hepatoprotective potential of a protein-enriched fraction (PEF) isolated from the maggots of housefly (Musca domestica) was evaluated in rats against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute hepatic damage. Activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase increased by 4- and 13-fold induced by CCl4, were significantly inhibited by pretreatment with 50, 100 and 200 mg PEF/kg. The formation of malondialdehyde was also significantly decreased in PEF-treated group compared with CCl4-treated group. The treatments with PEF also elevated total protein levels significantly. These results were further supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections. Hyperplasia of kupffer cells was observed after treatment with PEF (100 and 200 mg/kg). We conclude that PEF is effective in this model of liver damage.