Effect of two Athamanta turbith subspecies essential oils on some liver biochemical parameters in mice treated with carbon tetrachloride

We investigated the effects of essential oils isolated from mature fruits of Athamanta turbith ssp. hungarica (Borbás) Tutin and A. turbith ssp. haynaldii (Borbás & Uechtr.) Tutin (Umbelliferae) on some liver biochemical parameters in mice intoxicated with CCl₄. Mice received single oral administration of water emulsion of essential oils (70, 140, 280µl of essential oil/kg b.w.) three hours before CCl₄ was administrated (in single dose of 1ml/kg b.w.). Twenty-four hours after intoxication, mice were sacrificed to obtain blood and liver. In liver homogenate activities of following enzymes were measured: peroxidase (Px), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), lipid peroxidase (LPx) and xanthine oxidase (XOD), together with the content of reduced glutathione (GSH). In serum, the activities of aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) and alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) were estimated [1]. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA followed by Dunnett's 2-sided post hoc test. A mean difference was significant at the 0.05 level. Treatment with CCl₄ yielded a decrease in activities of CAT, XOD, GSH-Px, as well as of GSH content. Px, LPx, AST and ALT activities were increased. In applied doses, examined essential oils showed a certain hepatoprotective effect, since pretreatment with either of essential oils extenuated the effects caused by CCl₄. In mice treated only with essential oils, decrease in Px and CAT activity was detected, while values for other liver biochemical parameters did not vary significantly from the control group (not treated animals). Myristicin, the major compound in both essential oils, was previously reported to be a potent hepatoprotective agent [2].

References: [1] Popović, M. et al. (2002) Oxidation Comm. 20: 531–37. [2] Morita, T. et al. (2003) J. Agric. Food Chem. 51: 1560–65.