Planta Med 2014; 80 - PD5
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382426

Hepatoprotective properties of Commiphora opobals – A traditional medicinal plant of Saudi Arabia

T Alhowiriny 1, M Al-Sohaibani 2, M Al-said 1, M Al-Yahya 1, K El-Tahir 1, S Rafatullah 1
  • 1Medicinal, Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • 2Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Balessan is the Arabic local name of Commiphora opobalsamum that has been used in diseases of liver, stomach, and urinary tract. The hepatoprotective activity of an ethanolic extract of C. opobalsamum was investigated in rats by inducing hepatotoxicity with carbon tetrachloride:liquid paraffin (1:1).

The aerial parts of the plant were collected in 2011. Powders from shade-dried plant sample (300 gm) were macerated in 96% ethanol (4 liters) for 36 hrs to yield the plant extract. Wistar albino rats of either sex were divided into four groups containing six animals in each group. Group I was kept as a control group. Groups II, III, and IV received 0.25 ml of CCl4 in liquid paraffin (1:1) per 100 g body weight intraperitoneally. Group II received only CCl4 treatment. Groups III & IV were treated in addition with 250 and 500 mg/kg of ethanolic extract of Balessan, respectively. The drug treatment was started 5 days prior to CCl4 administration and continued until the end of experiment.

The preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening of the aerial parts revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, sterols and triterpenes. Rats subjected to the CCl4 regimen alone developed significant hepatocellular damage as evidenced by a significant elevation in serum activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and billirubin compared with normal values, which have been used as reliable markers of hepatotoxicity. Oral administration of an ethanol extract of Balssan exhibited a significant reduction in CCl4 induced increased levels of SGOT, SGPT, ALP and bilirubin concentrations.

The plant extract had a significant protective effect by lowering serum transaminase levels (Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase), alkaline phosphatase and billirubin. Regarding the effect of CCl4 on liver cells and the protective effect of C. opobalsamum, no confluent necrosis was observed in either Balessan extract-treated groups, which support our biochemical findings. The chemical constituents responsible for its hepatoprotective activity against chemical injury are not known. However, the plant contains a number of phytochemical constituents, including flavonoids, saponins, sterols and triterpenes. These data suggest that the plant C. opobalsamum may act as an antioxidant agent and may have a hepatoprotective effect.