ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2008 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Hepatoprotective effect of Cichorium intybus on CCl4-induced liver damage in rats
Sadeghi Heibatollah1*, Nikbakht Mohammad Reza2; Ghaitasi Izadpanah2 and Sabzali Sohailla3
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj –Iran and Herbal Medicine Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj –Iran.
2Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj –Iran and Herbal Medicine Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj –Iran.
3Imam Sajjad Hospital, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
Accepted 11 April, 2008
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of hydroalcholic extract of Cichorium intybus (Cichorium intybus) using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) - induced liver injury in rats. The leaf extract at oral dosage of 200, 400 and 500 mg/kg exhibited significant (P<0.05) protective effect against CCl4 induced hepatoxocity. Level of serum markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminitransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) were significantly increased in CCl4 treated rats. Simultaneously, C. intybus extract significantly suppressed mainly the increase in plasma activities of AST, ALT, ALP and TB concentration, which are considered as markers of liver functional state. The results of this study confirmed the hepatoprotective activity effect of the hydroalcholic extract of C. intybus.
Key words: Cichorium intybus, hepatoprotective activity, carbon tetrachloride, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminitransferase, alkaline phosphatase.