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DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-949967
Hepatoprotective activity of the ethyl acetate extract of Teucrium polium L. against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic injury in rats
The hepatoprotective activity of ethyl acetate extract of Teucrium polium (L.) has been investigated using CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. Specific biochemical parameters (glutathione peroxidase – GPx, superoxide dismutase – SOD, reduced glutathione – GSH and total antioxidative status – TAS) were estimated in blood and liver homogenate [1]. Lipid peroxidation (LP) in CCl4-intoxicated rats was evidenced by a marked increment in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) [2]. Histopatological examination of the liver were undertaken to monitor the status of the liver. Silymarin has been used as a standard to compare the activity of the extract [3]. The influence of T. polium extract at a dose of 25mg/Kg, on the biochemical parameters was significant different (p<0.05) with that of the CCl4-treated group. The liver biopsy of experimental rats showed significant restoration of normal histomorfological pattern of liver cells. The study substantiates the hepatoprotective potential of ethyl acetate extract of T. polium which may be due to the presence of luteolin, apigenin, cirsimaritin and cirsiliol, determined by HPLC.
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