Clinicopathological and histopathological studies on the hepatoprotective effect of artichoke in albino rats

Abstract EN

The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of artichoke on Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced oxidative stress and hepatic fibrosis in male albino rats.

Forty male albino rats were divided into 4 equal groups.

Group (I) was kept as control.

Group (II) received artichoke 300mg / kg b.

wt.

orally via stomach gavage daily for 14weeks.

Group (III) injected intrapretoneally with DEN 50mg / kg b.

wt.

once weekly for 12 weeks.

Group (IV) received artichoke via stomach gavage 300 mg / kg b.

wt.

two weeks prior to DEN injection and at the beginning of the 3rd week the rats were intrapretoneally injected with DEN 50mg / kg b.

wt once weekly.

All rats were killed at the end of 14 th week.

DEN administration resulted in significant elevation of liver enzymes as well as hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA).

Glutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were also increased.

In rats pretreated with artichoke extract (group IV), significant decreases in liver enzymes activities and MDA were observed following DEN treatment as compared to DEN-treated rats, but GSH level, SOD and CAT activities were increased.

The present clinicopathological and histopathological findings indicated that artichoke significantly reduced the liver toxicity.

So it could be used as hepatoprotective agents against hepatotoxicity.