Author
Abstract
The study was investigated the hepatoprotective activity of methanolic
extract of Anastatica hierochuntica using carbon tetra chloride (CCl4)-induced
hepatotoxicity in rats. The levels of liver enzymes glutamate oxaloacetate
transminase , glutamate pyruvate transminase ,alkaline phosphatase ,total Protein,
total and direct bilirubin, in addition to Superoxide dismutase, glutathione
peroxidase activities ,glutathione malondialdehyde and total antioxidant status
levels were evaluated in experimental rats (with or without CCl4-
inducedhepatotoxicity)following intake of 100 mg/kg p.o alcoholic Anastatica
hierochuntica extract by using standard procedures compared with standard
silymarin at a dose of 100 mg/kg p.o. Results showed that methanolic extract at a
dose level of 100 mg/kg had a significant decrease(p<0.05) in activities of serum
liver enzymes, glutamate oxaloacetate transminase , glutamate pyruvate
transminase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and protein were significantly
decreased in rats treated with CCl4 after 4 weeks compared to that of silymarin
group in addition to the methanolic extract had antioxidant activity through
decreasing activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase to levels
in control rats group. Histopathology of a liver tissue of the animals treated with
the extract was also studied to monitor the liver status. The liver biopsy of all
experimental rat groups treated with the methanolic Anastatica hierochuntica
extract showed significant restoration of the normal histomorphologic pattern of
liver cells. From the above results, it is concluded for the first time that methanolic
Anastatica hierochuntica extract offers protective effect against CCl4-induced
hepatotoxicity in experimental rats.
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