Hepatoprotective Effect of Juniperus Phoenicea on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

Background: Juniperus phoenciea is an herbaceous plant, used widely in traditional medicine for the treatment of several medical disorders such as antiseptic and gastrointestinal tract. Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the role for treatment of Juniperus phoenciea extracts as therapeutic effects against CCL4 with biochemical and histopathological evaluation. Methods and Results: The present investigation reports the protective effects of juniperus phonicea against CCL4 induced hepathotoxicity in rats. The toxicant CCL4 was used to induce hepathotoxicity at once a dose (0.75 ml/kg), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured to assess the liver function with histological evaluation. CCL4 caused elevation in levels of serum AST, ALT, and LDH. Oral administration of methanolic extract of J.phoenicea (300mg/kg) for one month (three times per week) showed no significant attenuated hepatic dysfunction by decrease levels of these enzymes. The administration of silymarin as standard drug produce significantly reduce in the elevated serum AST, ALT and LDH activities while when compared with extract treated group no significant difference between two groups. liver sections of CCL4 induced rats showed deletions in micro anatomy. However, J.phoenicea extract prevented liver damage induced by CCL4. Conclusion: The findings indicate that J.phoenicea methanolic extract may possess antioxidant activity thus hepatoprotective effects.