Ameliorative property of the ethanolic extract of Tragopogon graminifolius DC. on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice: A pharmacological examination

Hepatotoxicity is the most common disorder with severe effects on quality of life. Tragopogon graminifolius DC. has been used in Iran as an astringent and bleeding inhibitor, wound healer and gastro-protector agent. To our knowledge, there are little evidence at hand on hepatoprotective activity of T. graminifolius. The present study was carried out to assess hepatoprotective property of T. graminifolius ethanolic extract on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity in mice for 45 consecutive days. Fifty male mice were divided into five groups (n=10). Group 1 (control) received 1 ml/kg olive oil intraperitoneally (i.p.) and distilled water orally; Group 2 (untreated) received CCl4 (50% in olive oil, 1 ml/kg; i.p.); Groups 3, 4 and 5 received CCl4 and 30, 90 and 270 mg/kg of T. graminifolius (T30, T90 and T270), respectively. At 45th day, the mice were killed, dissected, then blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical and stereological parameters analysis. Biochemically, T. graminifolius at all doses (especially T270) could significantly (p≤0.05) reduce the raised levels of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total and conjugated bilirubin, and increase the decreased levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), total protein, albumin, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Stereologically, different doses of T. graminifolius (especially T270) decreased the weight and volume of the hepatic structures as compared to the untreated group significantly (p≤0.05). The obtained results indicate that T. graminifolius ethanolic extract, potential applications as a therapeutical supplement or medicine, after confirming clinical trial studies.