Abstract

Background: Acute pancreatitis is caused by enzyme self-digestion, oxidative stress, and apoptotic cell death. Cytokines produced exuberantly and excessive reactive oxygen species trigger cellular injury and systemic inflammation. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals present in Hibiscus tiliaceus L. make it useful for protecting and treating the pancreas. Method: H. tiliaceus leaves were defatted with hexane, and the leaves were extracted with ethanol using a Soxhlet apparatus. Forty female Wistar rats were divided into five groups: controls, cerulein-induced pancreatitis, and three other groups given 125, 250, or 500mg/kg body weight of the H. tiliaceus leaf extracts for seven days. ELISA measured serum enzymes, MDA, and GSH, while TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3 were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Results: Phytochemical screening showed that there are alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and sterols in the plant. HPLC profiling confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds in the plant, including quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, gallic acid, and scopatine. Cerulein induction markedly elevated serum enzyme levels, oxidative stress markers, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, while H. tiliaceus extract treated rats significantly and dose-dependently reduced these parameters. The extract at 500 mg/kg restored near-normal levels of amylase, lipase, MDA, GSH, TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3. Conclusion: H. tiliaceus leaves' ethanolic extract showed a substantial therapeutic effect against cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Iraq H. tiliaceus ethanolic leaves' extract, hence providing potential evidence that could be a natural remedy or treatment approach against acute pancreatitis.