Protective Effect of Dates (Phoenixdactylifera L.) and Licorice (Glycyrrhizaglabra) on Carbon Tetrachloride–Induced Hepatotoxicity in Dogs

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Menofia University (Sadat), Menofia, Egypt

2 Al- Farabi Dental and Nursing College- Jeddah-K.S.A.

3 Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of VeterinaryMedicine, ChungnamNationalUniversity, Daejeon, Korea

Abstract

The ameliorative activity of aqueous extracts of the dates (Phoenix dactyliferaL.) and Licorice (Glycyrrhizaglabra) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity was studied in dogs. Fifteen dogs were divided into 3 equal groups of five each. Group 1 (CCl4-positive control) animals were injected intra-peritoneal with a fresh mixture of equal volumes of CCl4 and olive oil (1:1 – v: v) at doses of 0.6 ml/kg of body weight for 3 successive days and receiving normal saline orally (15ml/kg) for 14 consecutive days. Group 2 (prophylactic group) receiving both date and licorice
extracts orally for 24 consecutive days and treated with IP CCl4 on Days 10, 11, and 12 of the experimental period. Group3 (curative group) were received aqueous extract of date and licorice extracts for 14 consecutive days and were injected with IP CCl4 on Days 1, 2, and 3 of the experimental period. Liver damage was assessed by liver morphology, histology and estimation of plasma concentration of enzyme activities of alkalinphospatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and protein profile (total proteins, albumin, globulin and A/G ratio). Treatment with aqueous extract of date flesh and licorice significantly reduced CCl4-induced elevation in plasma liver marker enzymes concentrations and ameliorated histopathological liver damage and stop fibrosis and edema of hepatic parenchyma in dogs. Hence these synergistic effects of date and licorice extract can be used alone and/or in polyherbal formulations of hepatoprotective drugs, there by preventing the process of initiation and progress of hepatocellular diseases

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