Abstract

HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PISTACIA LENTISCUS, RHEUM PALMATUM IN CCL4 INDUCED MODEL OF ACUTE LIVER INJURY.

Faruk H. AL-Jawad, AL-Hussaini J. A., Muayyad S. Abbood and
Mohammad Oda Selman*

Abstract

Background: Acute liver injury is a serious state of extensive damage of liver tissue caused by different reasons. It is obvious that certain plants have been used to treat some liver diseases. The objective: to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of both Pistacia Lentiscus (Mastic) dried trunk resin and Rheum Palmatum (Rhubarb) dried rhizomes or roots in rabbit model with acute liver injury. Material and Method: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was used to induce liver injury at a dose of 1.25 mL/kg as a mixture with olive oil. The aqueous extracts of Mastic and Rhubarb were administered orally in a dose of 1gm /kg and 0.2 gm/ kg respectively for seven successive days. The hepatoprotective activity of both extracts was assessed by liver function tests and histopathological sections of the liver. Discussion: It was found a significant reduction of hepatic enzymes levels, serum bilirubin and improvement in serum proteins in the animals treated with these extracts as well as restoration of hepatocellular architecture, absence of necrosis with mild degree of congestion and fatty infiltration. In conclusion: The aqueous extract of both Mastic and Rhubarb showed a significant hepatoprotective activity against ccl4 induced liver injury.

Keywords: Pistacia Lentiscus, Mastic, Rheum Palmatum, Rhubarb, Hepatocellular architecture.