Evaluation of the Hepatoprotective Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Thymus Daenensis on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Liver disease is one of the major problems in human societies today. Effective drug treatment for these disorders is of interest to researchers and physicians worldwide due to their polyphenolic and flavonoid compounds, they have high antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to determine and investigate the hepatoprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Thymus vulgaris on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. 

In this experimental study, 40 Wistar rats weighing 220-250 g were randomly divided into five groups of eight. One group was treated as control and the other four groups were induced by hepatotoxic carbon tetrachloride. Of these four groups, one group received orally 400 mg / kg, 800 mg / kg / day of rat powder in the other three groups, respectively. 45 days after study in all groups, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymes, as well as serum total protein, albumin, and bilirubin concentrations were measured using aqueous acid test and data were analyzed using ANOVA.

Total protein, total albumin and bilirubin concentration in the negative control group were not significantly different from the positive control group (p> 0.05), but the liver enzyme activity was significantly different (p <0.05). Hepatic enzyme activity in group II and bilirubin in group III showed a better decrease.

The results of this study show that the extract of Thymus vulgaris has protective effects against carbon damages caused by carbon tetrachloride.