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AMELIORATION OF HEPATIC INJURY BY CAMEL’S BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS THROUGH THE MODULATION OF NF-ΚB AND NRF2/HO-1 SINGLING PATHWAY

KHALID M. ALKHARFY 1*, WAHAF B. ALDAHASI 2, AJAZ AHMAD 1, MODI A. ALKHARFI 3, MOHAMMAD RAISH 4, SYED RIZWAN AHAMAD 5,6, BASIT L. JAN 1

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Camel’s products are regarded historically as having a high-quality source of nutrients and used to treat various ailments. In particular, camel's milk and urine have been applied to treat disorders stemming from persistent liver dysfunction. The objective of this study was to explore the hepatoprotective effects and potential mechanisms of camel’s biological fluids (i.e., milk and urine) on D-Gal-induced liver injury in mice. Mice was allocated randomly into four groups of six mice each. Group 1 administered normal saline orally (p.o.) for 14 days. Group 2 were given normal saline for 14 days and D-GalN (800 mg/kg i.p.) 24 hr before the last saline administration and served as disease control. Group 3 and 4 were treated orally with camel’s milk and urine (10 mL/kg) for 14 days, respectively, and 24 hr before the last dose D-Gal dose (800 mg/kg i.p.). At the end of the experiment, the blood samples were collected in heparinized tubes for biomarkers’ analysis and liver tissues were harvested for histology. A marked increase in liver function tests (i.e., AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, LDH and bilirubin) was observed in the D-Gal-treated mice compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Treatment with camel’s milk and urine significantly ameliorated hepatic injury and improved liver histology findings. The protective mechanism of camel’s milk and urine also appeared to be dependent on the downregulation of NF-κB and the reinstatement of antioxidant enzyme levels via the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. The biological fluids or excreta of camel (i.e., milk and urine) could have a potential application in the management acute hepatic injury and future clinical testing is warranted.