The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of anise on the activity of liver enzymes in rats on a high-fat diet

High-cholesterol diet and ensuing inflammation cause liver disorders and damage. Considering the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the anise plant, the effect of its hydroalcoholic extract on the activity of liver enzymes was assessed in rats under a high-cholesterol diet. In this experimental study, rats were divided into control, extract-treated control, high cholesterol diet, and extract-treated high cholesterol diet. After 8 weeks, that the control groups received normal food and the high-fat groups received high-cholesterol food, treated groups also received extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg (i.p.) for 3 weeks and consumption of high-cholesterol diet continued till the end of study. At the end, after obtaining blood samples, serum activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzymes was measured. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests were used for the statistical analysis of data. High-cholesterol diet significantly increased serum activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase. Conversely, extract treatment of the group under a high-cholesterol diet caused a significant decrease in the activity of these enzymes. Consumption of anise hydroalcoholic extract under a high-cholesterol diet reduces the serum level of liver enzymes and this may lower the incidence of liver diseases.