Antioxidant Potential of Momordica Charantia in Ammonium Chloride-Induced Hyperammonemic Rats.

The present study was aimed to investigate the antioxidant potential of Momordica charantia fruit extract (MCE) in ammonium chloride-induced (AC) hyperammonemic rats. Experimental hyperammonemia was induced in adult male Wistar rats (180-200 g) by intraperitoneal injections of ammonium chloride (100 mg kg(-1) body weight) thrice a week. The effect of oral administration (thrice a week for 8 consecutive weeks) of MCE (300 mg kg(-1) body weight) on blood ammonia, plasma urea, serum liver marker enzymes and oxidative stress biomarkers in normal and experimental animals was analyzed. Hyperammonemic rats showed a significant increase in the activities of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydroperoxides and liver markers (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase), and the levels of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione were decreased in the liver and brain tissues. Treatment with MCE normalized the above-mentioned changes in hyperammonemic rats by reversing the oxidant-antioxidant imbalance during AC-induced hyperammonemia, and offered protection against hyperammonemia. Our results indicate that MCE exerting the antioxidant potentials and maintaining the cellular integrity of the liver tissue could offer protection against AC-induced hyperammonemia. However, the exact underlying mechanism is yet to be investigated, and examination of the efficacy of the active constituents of the M. charantia on hyperammonemia is desirable.

1. Introduction

In mammals, ammonia is an important nitrogen substrate in several reactions and plays an important role in nitrogen homeostasis of mammalian cells. Ammonia is produced by amino acid and protein catabolism and is toxic to brain and muscles. Ammonia toxicity results in free-radical generation that leads to oxidative stress and tissue damage [1]; it is converted to urea in the liver by urea-cycle enzymes, which is then excreted by the kidneys. Hyperammonemia may result from genetic defect or deficiency of the urea-cycle enzymes or from acquired conditions such as Reye's syndrome, liver failure, high-dose chemotherapy and severe infection [2]. Hyperammonemia is a major contributing factor to neurological abnormalities observed in hepatic encephalopathy and congenital defects of ammonia detoxification. Ammonia affects both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the mammalian brain through a variety of mechanisms [3]. The clinical features of hyperammonemia are usually nonspecific in adults and include vomiting, lethargy, sleep and behavioral disturbances, hallucinations, delusions and psychosis [4], coma and death [2].

The greatest disadvantage of the currently available potent conventional or synthetic antihyperammonemic agents/therapies lies in their toxicity and reappearance of symptoms after discontinuation. Valporic acid, phenobarbitol and carbamazepine are some of the currently used antiseizure and antihyperammonemic drugs. These drugs or therapies are sometimes inadequate and can have serious adverse effects [5]. Therefore, the screening and development of drugs for their antihyperammonemic activity is still in progress, and there is a growing need to find appropriate protective agents against hyperammonemia from traditional medicinal plants.

Momordica charantia L (Bitter melon) is one of the most important species belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, commonly known as bitter gourd or bitter melon in English. The origin of this crop is presumed to be India, with secondary center of diversity in China [6]. Its fruits, leaves and roots have been shown to exhibit various biological activities, including antidiabetic, antirheumatic, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory and antitumor, and is used for treating jaundice, leprosy and as an antivenom to snakebite [7-9]. A bitter melon fruit has a particular clinical usefulness, similar to MAP30 (Momordica anti-HIV protein; molecular weight: 30 kDa) that is believed to have multiple functions that could be beneficial for the treatment of HIV infections [10]. Recently, it has been found to be a powerful activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated α-receptor that regulates the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and transport [11]. In addition, examination of the phytochemicals of this plant indicated the presence of active components like momorcharins, momordenol, momordicilin, momordicins, momordicinin, momordin, momordolol, charantin, charine, cryptoxanthin, cucurbitins, cucurbitacins, cucurbitanes, cycloartenols, diosgenin, elaeostearic acids, erythrodiol, galacturonic acids, gentisic acid, goyaglycosides, goyasaponins and multiflorenol, which have been isolated [12, 13]. It is a well-documented fact that most medicinal plants are enriched with phenolic compounds and bioflavonoids that have excellent antioxidant property [14, 15].

Although various phytochemical constituents and diverse medicinal activities have been attributed to this plant, no biochemical studies have been carried out to shed light on the role of M. charantia fruit extract on liver marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in experimental hyperammonemia.

2. Methods

2.1. Plant Material

The mature green M. charantia were collected from Chidambaram, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India. The plant was identified and authenticated at the Herbarium of Botany Directorate in Annamalai University. A voucher specimen (No. 1260) was deposited at the Botany Department of Annamalai University.

2.2. Preparation of Alcoholic Extract (MCE)

Alcoholic extract of the fruit was prepared according to the method developed by Shibib et al. [16]. One kilogram of unripe fruit bought from the local market was thoroughly washed, and the seeds were removed. The pulp was blended in 1500 mL of 95% alcohol, and left at room temperature with occasional shaking for 48 h .The suspension was filtered through cheesecloth, and the filtrate was evaporated in a Rotovac (Buchi Labortechnik AG, Switzerland) at 40°C to remove the alcohol. The final residue was stored at −20°C until further use. The residual extract was suspended in 1% (w/v) carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and used in the investigation [17].

2.3. Chemicals

Ammonium chloride was purchased from Sisco Research Laboratories, Mumbai, India. All the other chemicals used in the study were of analytical grade.

2.4. Animals

Adult male albino Wistar rats, weighing 180–200 g bred in the Central Animal House, Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University, were used for the experiment. The animals were housed in polycarbonate cages in a room with a 12-h day-night cycle, at a temperature of 22 ± 2°C and humidity of 45–64%. The animals were fed with a standard pellet diet (Hindustan Lever Ltd, Mumbai, India) and water ad libitum. All the animal experiments were approved by the ethical committee, Annamalai University (Clearance No. 536/20-03-08), and were in accordance with the guidelines of the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Hyderabad, India. Hyperammonemia was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injections of ammonium chloride at a dose of 100 mg kg−1 body weight, thrice in a week for 8 consecutive weeks [18].

2.5. Experimental Design

In the experiment, a total of 32 rats were used. The rats were divided into four groups of eight rats each. Group I rats received 1% (w/v) CMC and were considered as control, Group II normal rats were administered with MCE (300 mg kg−1 body weight) using an intragastric tube [16], Group III rats were treated with ammonium chloride intraperitoneally (100 mg kg−1 body weight) [18] and Group IV rats were treated with ammonium chloride (100 mg kg−1) + MCE (300 mg kg−1).

At the end of eighth week, the rats were fasted overnight and killed by cervical dislocation after anesthetizing with ketamine hydrochloride (30 mg kg−1 body weight; im). Blood was collected, and plasma and serum were separated by centrifugation. The liver and brain tissues were excised immediately and rinsed in ice-chilled normal saline. About 500 mg of the tissues were homogenized in 5.0 mL of 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4). The homogenate was centrifuged and the supernatant was used for the estimation of various biochemical parameters.

2.6. Biochemical Estimations

Blood ammonia was determined by the enzymatic kinetic colorimetric assay developed by Wolheim [19], using an automated Roche/Hitachi 912 kit. Plasma urea was determined by the diacetyl monoxime method [20] using automated Roche/Hitachi 912 kit. Urea reacted with diacetyl monoxime under strong acidic conditions and produced a pink-colored complex, and the color developed was read at 540 nm. Activities of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were assayed using the method described by Reitman and Frankel [21], while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was assayed by the method described by King and Armstrong [22].

Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were estimated by the method developed by Yagi [23], while the TBARS in the liver and brain were estimated by the method developed by Fraga et al. [24]. The estimation of lipid hydroperoxides (HP) in plasma, liver and brain tissues was carried out using the method described by Jiang et al. [25], while the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver and brain tissues was assayed by the method developed by Kakkar et al. [26]. The activity of catalase (CAT) in the liver and brain tissues was assayed by the method described by Sinha [27], and an estimation of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the plasma, liver and brain tissues was made using the method described by Ellman [28]. Furthermore, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was assayed by the method developed by Rotruck et al. [29], and the protein in the enzyme extract was determined by the method described by Lowry et al. [30].

2.7. Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Duncan's multiple range test (DMRT) using SPSS software package 13.0. The results were expressed as mean ± SD from eight rats in each group, and P-values of <.05 were considered as significant.

3. Results

3.1. Antihyperammonemic and Hepatoprotective Effect

Table 1 shows the levels of blood ammonia, plasma urea and serum AST, ALT and ALP of normal and experimental rats. Ammonium chloride-induced (AC) rats showed a significantly increased level of the above-mentioned biochemical parameters when compared with the normal rats. Oral treatment with MCE in AC rats significantly decreased the levels of blood ammonia, plasma urea and serum AST, ALT and ALP, when compared with rats induced with ammonium chloride alone.

Table 1

Effect of MCE on changes in the blood ammonia and plasma urea, serum AST, ALT and ALP of normal and experimental rats.

Groups	Blood ammonia (μmol L−1)	Urea (mg dl−1)	AST (IU l−1)	ALT (IU l−1)	ALP (IU l−1)
Normal	89.54 ± 4.47a	10.28 ± 2.99a	72.10 ± 6.26a	24.27 ± 2.08a	74.42 ± 6.14a
Normal + MCE (300 mg kg−1)	85.32 ± 8.94a	11.40 ± 0.77a	70.24 ± 6.28a	22.01 ± 1.78a	73.96 ± 4.50a
AC (100 mg kg−1)	327.15 ± 26.83b	22.93 ± 1.78b	118.41 ± 10.73b	60.34 ± 5.36b	141.72 ± 12.52b
MCE (300 mg kg−1) + AC	140.26 ± 17.88c	13.15 ± 0.89c	85.82 ± 8.74c	32.74 ± 2.68c	85.71 ± 7.15c

Each value is mean ± SD for 8 rats in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript (a, b and c) differ significantly at P < .05 (DMRT).

3.2. Antilipidperoxidation Activity

Table 2 shows the levels of TBARS and HP in plasma and tissues (liver and brain) of the normal and experimental rats. AC rats showed a significantly increased level of TBARS and HP in plasma and tissues when compared with the normal rats. Oral treatment with MCE in AC rats significantly decreased the levels of TBARS and HP in plasma and tissues (liver and brain) when compared with rats induced with ammonium chloride alone.

Table 2

Effect of MCE on the levels of TBARS and HP in plasma, liver and brain in normal and experimental rats.

Groups	Plasma TBARS (nM ml−1)	Plasma HP (values × 10−5 mM dL−1)	Liver TBARS (mM per 100 g wet tissue)	Liver HP (mM per 100 g wet tissue)	Brain TBARS (mM per 100 g wet tissue)	Brain HP (mM per 100 g wet tissue)
Normal	2.74 ± 0.17a	8.40 ± 0.11a	0.86 ± 0.07a	66.08 ± 5.21a	1.06 ± 0.08a	112.00 ± 8.50a
Normal + MCE (300 mg kg−1)	2.93 ± 0.17a	8.25 ± 0.54a	0.80 ± 0.06a	64.03 ± 5.12a	0.96 ± 0.07a	111.28 ± 8.48a
AC (100 mg kg−1)	4.56 ± 0.35b	13.16 ± 1.01b	2.16 ± 0.14b	97.86 ± 7.03b	1.97 ± 0.15b	135.24 ± 10.30b
MCE (300 mg kg−1) + AC	3.10 ± 0.17c	10.20 ± 0.89c	1.15 ± 0.11c	76.56 ± 5.81c	1.36 ± 0.11c	118.44 ± 2.76c

Each value is mean ± SD for 8 rats in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript (a, b and c) differ significantly at P < .05 (DMRT).

3.3. Improvement in Antioxidant Levels in MCE-Treated Rats

The activities of SOD, CAT, GSH and GPx in the liver and brain of the normal and experimental rats are shown in Tables 3 and 4. AC rats exhibited significantly decreased activities of these antioxidant enzymes in the liver and brain when compared with the normal CMC-treated control rats. Furthermore, treatment with MCE in AC rats significantly increased these antioxidants when compared with rats induced with ammonium chloride alone.

Table 3

Effect of MCE on the activities of SOD and CAT in the liver and brain of normal and experimental rats.

Groups	Liver SOD (Ua mg−1 protein)	Liver catalase (Ub mg−1 protein)	Brain SOD (Ua mg−1 protein)	Brain catalase (Ub mg−1 protein)
Normal	9.01 ± 0.58a	84.02 ± 6.30a	7.01 ± 0.47a	3.14 ± 0.23a
Normal + MCE (300 mg kg−1)	9.70 ± 0.73a	85.04 ± 6.45a	7.02 ± 0.48a	3.27 ± 0.19a
AC (100 mg kg−1)	3.78 ± 0.29b	40.98 ± 3.11b	5.28 ± 0.30b	0.87 ± 0.07b
MCE (300 mg kg−1) + AC	6.41 ± 0.38c	70.60 ± 5.37c	7.40 ± 0.35c	2.74 ± 0.21c

Each value is mean ± SD for 8 rats in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript (a, b and c) differ significantly at P < .05 (DMRT).

Ua − Ub is defined as the enzyme concentration required to inhibit the OD at 560 nm of chromogen production by 50% in 1 min. P < .05 (DMRT).

Table 4

Effect of MCE on the activities of GSH and the levels of GPx normal and experimental rats.

Groups	Liver GSH (mg per 100 g wet tissue)	Liver GPx (Ud mg−1 protein)	Brain GSH (mg per 100 g wet tissue)	Brain GPx (Ud mg−1 protein)
Normal	49.28 ± 3.02a	9.39 ± 0.70a	35.45 ± 2.69a	3.38 ± 0.25a
Normal + MCE (30 mg kg−1)	50.46 ± 4.31a	9.85 ± 0.74a	37.40 ± 2.76a	3.57 ± 0.27a
AC (100 mg kg−1)	24.86 ± 1.93b	5.06 ± 0.43b	20.94 ± 1.74b	1.19 ± 0.09b
MCE (30 mg kg−1) + AC	42.79 ± 3.20c	7.57 ± 0.72c	27.62 ± 2.16c	2.69 ± 0.20c

Each value is mean ± SD for 8 rats in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript (a, b and c) differ significantly at P < .05 (DMRT). Ud: microgram of GSH consumed per minute.

4. Discussion

Ammonia is present in all living organisms as a product of degradation of proteins and other nitrogenous compounds. At higher levels, ammonia is toxic, leading to functional disturbances in the central nervous system that could lead to coma and death. To avoid the deleterious effects of ammonia, ureotelic animals detoxify ammonia by incorporating it into urea that is eliminated in urine [31, 32]. Increased levels of circulatory ammonia and urea indicate hyperammonemic condition in AC rats [33], which may be due to liver damage caused by ammonia intoxication.

Numerous investigations have documented that plant extracts containing phenolic compounds and flavonoids offer ammonia detoxification by removing excess ammonia, urea, uric acid and creatinine during various disease conditions, such as hyperammonemia, nephrotoxicity, and so forth [34, 35]. It was reported that MCE could normalize the levels of urea during diabetic conditions in rats [36] and the results of our experiments corroborate these findings.

The elevated levels of circulatory liver markers and lipid peroxidation products in AC rats might be due to the liver damage caused by ammonia-induced free radical generation [37]. Reports have shown that excess ammonia intoxication leads to excessive activation of NMDA receptors leading to neuronal degeneration and death [38, 39]. The mechanisms by which excessive activation of NMDA receptors leads to neuronal degeneration and death are caused by the increased Ca2+ concentration in the postsynaptic neuron [40, 41]. Ca2+ binds to calmodulin and activates nitric oxide synthase (NOS), increasing the formation of nitric oxide (NO) that contributes to the neurotoxic process. Activation of NMDA receptors also leads to increased production of superoxide radical, which has also been observed under in vivo conditions [37, 42]. Superoxide and NO have the ability to generate hydroxyl radicals [43]. This leads to oxidative stress [1, 44], which results in increased levels of lipid peroxidation products and decreased levels of antioxidants in AC rats (Figure 1). Treatment with MCE in AC rats significantly increased the level of antioxidants with the depletion of lipid peroxidation products, which may be due to the inhibition of NOS and NO by MCE [45].

Figure 1

MCE attenuates the AC-induced oxidative damages. Thick line represents inhibition.

Under normal conditions, a dynamic equilibrium exists between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant capacity of the cell [46]. Oxidative stress occurs when ROS levels exceed the antioxidant capacity of a cell. These ROS are highly toxic and react with lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, and lead to cell death via apoptosis or necrosis [47]. Peroxidation of lipids by the action of free radicals on unsaturated fatty acids has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases [48]. Previous reports state that ammonium (chloride/acetate) salts induce ammonia toxicity partly via oxidative stress, which leads to lipid peroxidation and free-radical generation [37]. This could be the primary cause for the central nervous system malfunction associated with hyperammonemia. Infection, trauma or ingestion of large amounts of proteins is usually the precipitating factor causing hyperammonemia [49].

ROS may attack any type of molecules, but their main target appears to be polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), the precursors of lipid peroxide formation [50]. Free-radical damage to cellular components and decomposition of hydroperoxide formed from oxidative breakdown of PUFAs are important factors in the development of cellular toxicity and pathology caused by lipid peroxidation. It is now generally accepted that lipid peroxides play an important role in liver toxicity [51]. Treatment with MCE in hyperammonemic rats significantly decreased the levels of TBARS and HP in plasma. Earlier reports show that MCE could decrease TBARS during hypocholesterolemic conditions [52], due to its antilipidperoxidation and free-radical scavenging activity [53, 54], which coincides with the results of our experiments.

Serum AST, ALT and ALP are the most sensitive markers employed in the diagnosis of liver diseases. When the liver cell plasma membrane is damaged, numerous enzymes normally located in the cytosol are released into the blood stream [55], and their estimation in serum is a useful quantitative marker to indicate hepatocellular damage [56]. The increased activities of these serum markers observed in our study correspond to considerable liver damage induced in AC rats. Treatment with MCE significantly decreased the levels of AST, ALT and ALP, suggesting that they offer protection by preserving the structural integrity of the hepatocellular membrane against ammonium chloride, and our findings are in agreement with the previously published results [36, 57].

The ROS generation in tissues is efficiently scavenged by the enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. The decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes is in close relationship with the induction of lipid peroxidation [58]. Antioxidants play a major role in protecting biological systems from reactive oxygen-derived species and reflect the antioxidant capacity of the system [59]. The components of the defense system, which have evolved to reduce and contain the injury from free-radical attack, include several enzymes and a few free-radical scavenger molecules [60]. SOD plays an important role in protecting the cells from oxidative damage by converting superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide, which is further metabolized by CAT to molecular oxygen and water. In the present study, the decreased activity of SOD and CAT was observed in the liver and brain tissues of AC rats, and this decrease was antagonized when MCE was administered [61]. SOD is the first enzyme of the scavenger enzyme series to ameliorate the damage caused to cells by free radicals [62], while CAT is one of the several cellular antioxidant enzymes that provide a defense system for the scavenging of reactive oxygen metabolites. Possibly, the MCE used in this study might have accelerated the catabolism of H2O2 in hyperammonemic rats due to its superoxide-scavenging and powerful antioxidant activities [53], which corroborate our findings.

We observed decreased levels of GSH along with decreased activity of GPx in the liver and brain tissues of hyperammonemic rats. GSH is a major endogenous antioxidant, which counteracts free-radical-mediated damage [63]. It forms an important substrate for GPx and several other enzymes, which is involved in the free-radical scavenging [64]. In the tissues, GPx is a major enzymatic component for the disposal of peroxides, and a prolonged depression in the activity of this enzyme may lead to the intracellular peroxide accumulation. Decreased GSH levels might be due to increased utilization in protecting “SH"-containing proteins from lipid peroxides, and the unavailability of GSH may decrease the activities of GPx in AC rats. A previous report demonstrated that MCE could increase the level of GSH [61] and GPx [65] in diabetic rats, which coincides with our results. This may be due to the increased biosynthesis of GSH via activation of GSH synthase by MCE.

5. Conclusion

The biochemical findings of our present study indicate that MCE exerts protection to AC-induced hyperammonemic rats against oxidative stress. This could be due to the prevention or inhibition of lipid peroxidative system by its antioxidant, maintenance of cellular integrity and hepatoprotective effect. However, the exact mechanism is still unclear and further research on the effect of the constituents of this plant is needed.