The effects of diethylether extract of helichrysum plicatum Dc. Subsp. Plicatum and tanacetum balsamita L. subsp. balsamitoides (Sch. Bip.) grierson (Asteraceae) on the acute liver toxicity in rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the diethylether extract of Helichrysum plicatum DC. subsp. plicatum (HP) and Tanacetum balsamita L. subsp. balsamitoides (Sch. Bip.) Grierson (Asteraceae) (TB) in carbontetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver toxicity in rats. Acute liver toxicity was induced by injecting CCl4 (0.8 mL kg-1) intraperitoneally for 7 days. The control group received isotonic saline only. The reference group received 50 mg kg-1 silibinin. TB and HP extract was injected in doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg kg-1. Body weights were measured daily during the experiment. On the 8th day of the experiments blood and liver samples were collected. Serum Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured in serum samples. Tissue samples were evaluated histopathologically. Some of the rats in TB and HP groups died during the experiments. Serum ALT levels were higher in the TB and HP groups than those in the CCl4 group. Histopathological findings were similar in the CCl4, TB and HP groups. The body weight loss was more in the TB and HP groups compared to that of the CCl4 group. It is concluded that the diethylether extract of Helichrysum plicatum DC. subsp. plicatum and Tanacetum balsamita L. subsp. balsamitoides (Sch. Bip.) Grierson (Asteraceae) did not have a protective effect in carbontetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver toxicity in rats and even exacerbated the toxicity. © 2010 Academic Journals Inc.