Protective effect of ethanolic extract of Origanum vulgare on halothane-induced hepatotoxicity in rat

Objective-This study was aimed at evaluating the protective effect of Origanum vulgare on the alleviation of halothane-induced hepatotoxicity in rat.Design- Experimental study.Animals- Thirty two 3.5 – 4 month-old, male, Wistar albino rats.Procedures- The animals were allocated to 4 groups for 7 days as follows: Groups N (Normal) and H (Halothane), who have just received drinking water without Origanum extract, while Groups O (Origanum) and T (Treatment) received Origanum vulgare extract (20 mg/kg body weight) during experimental period in drinking water. Groups H and T exposed to the halothane 2% for 2 hours on 6th day of study. The blood sample was taken from all animals on 7th day, and hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed.Results- Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (T-BIL), direct bilirubin (D-BIL) and indirect bilirubin (I-BIL) were significantly increased (P < 0.05) by halothane anesthesia in comparison with normal animals. The mentioned parameters were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in group T compared with group H, except ALP and I-BIL (P >0.05). There were no significant differences in biochemical parameters between groups N and O (P >0.05).Amount of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and neutrophil percentage were increased and lymphoctes percentage was decreased significantly in group H in comparison with groups N and T (P < 0.05), But there were no significant differences in other hematological parameters such as PCV, RBC, MCV, MCH and WBC between the groups. There were no significant differences in hematological parameters between groups N and O (P >0.05).