Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of Carthamus tinctorius L extract on diethylnitrosamine-induced liver cirrhosis in rats

Zhi-wei Hu, Wei-xing Wang

Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China;

For correspondence:- Wei-xing Wang Email: huzhiwei133494@163.com Tel:+86 02788041911

Received: 5 February 2015 Accepted: 27 May 2015 Published: 29 July 2015

Citation: Hu Z, Wang W. Effect of Carthamus tinctorius L extract on diethylnitrosamine-induced liver cirrhosis in rats. Trop J Pharm Res 2015; 14(7):1213-1216 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v14i7.13

© 2015 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To explore the effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. extract (CTLE) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cirrhosis in rats.

Methods: CTLE was obtained by extracting the dried Carthamus tinctorius L. in water. Liver cirrhosis was induced by injecting the rats with DEN once a week for 8 weeks. Following this treatment, clinical biochemical assessments, as well as oxidative stress test and histopathological examination were performed.

Results: Compared with the control group, plasma concentrations of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) both decreased significantly (p < 0.01) after 8 weeks. The degree of liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and necrosis decreased in CTLE-treated rats. CTLE significantly inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutases (SOD) in DEN-induced rat liver (p < 0.01) compared with control group.

Conclusion: CTLE has significant inhibitory effect on diethylnitrosamine-induced liver cirrhosis in rats, which can be developed for future clinical applications.

Keywords: Carthamus tinctorius L., Liver cirrhosis, Anti-oxidant, Apoptosis, Diethylnitrosamine