Effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oils on prevention of liver injuries in rats treated with carbon tetrachloride

Carbon tetra chloride converts to CCL3O by cytochrom P 450 that conjugate with glutathione by GST, leading to GSH depletion and oxidative injuries. Therefore, the compounds with antioxidant activity can prevent oxidative damages induced by CCL4. In this study, the rats were divided into five groups treated with CCL4, (2ml/kg bw), essential oil (100 and 200 mg/kg bw) and BHT (10mg/kg bw) (ip). In following, the liver and blood were removed after administrations. The activity of GST, reduced glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation (LP) levels were measured in liver homogenate. In addition, total antioxidant activity and the level of hepatic marker (AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin) were measured in plasma of rats. The results showed that CCL4 caused GSH depletion and reduction of GST activity in liver, leading to increased liver LP level and transaminase activities (AST and ALT) in plasma. Treatments of rats with essential oil as same as BHT prevent the changes of these parameters. We can conclude that CCL4 induces hepatic oxidative damages in rats. Treatment of rats with essential oils, probably due to its antioxidant activity, can partly prevent the induction of liver injuries.