Abstract

HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ARTICHOKE LEAVES AQUEOUS EXTRACT IN CCL4 INTOXICATED RATS

Shalaby, M. A.* and Hammoda, A.A.

ABSTRACT

The phytochemical screening of Artichoke leaves aqueous extract (ALE) was undertaken and its protective effect against carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was studied. Fifty mature male rats were randomized into 5 equal groups as follows: (1) negative (normal) control, (2) positive (intoxicated non-treated) control, (3) standard (Silymarin-pretreated, 50 mg/kg), (4) pretreated with ALE in dose 200 mg/kg and (5) pretreated with ALE in dose 400 mg/kg, respectively. CCL4 was subcutaneously injected to all groups except the negative control during the last week of experiment to induce hepatotoxicity. Silymarin and ALE were orally given to rats in daily doses for 6 weeks. At the end of experiment, rats were weighed, sacrificed and blood samples were collected for serum biochemical analyses. Livers of the sacrificed rats were taken for assaying activities of antioxidant enzymes and histopathology. The phytochemical screening revealed that ALE contains flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, and devoid of resins and triterpenes. Oral pretreatments with ALE increased body weight gain; normalized serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP enzymes, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, and total bilirubin, and increased levels of total proteins. There were also increases in activities of tissue superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase antioxidant enzymes with mitigation of renal tubular necrosis induced by CCL4 in the liver. These results denote that ALE has hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects in hepatotoxic rats. Therefore, intake of Artichoke leaves as herbal tea may be beneficial for patients who suffer from liver diseases.

Keywords: Artichoke, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Antioxidant, Liver histopathology.