Biochemical and Histomorphometric Studies on the Liver Rats Administrated With Glycyrrhiza glabra Extracts

It had been demonstrated that Glycyrrhiza glabra extract has biological capabilities include detoxication, antioxidation and antiinfection properties, although there is little data available about its probable side effects on the liver integrity. So, the effects of G. glabra administration on the liver ́s histology and some biochemical parameters were investigated in the rats. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly distributed into four groups (n=8). Experimental groups were injected intra-peritoneally with aqueous extract of G. glabra at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively, for 30 consecutive days while control group was injected with tap water only. At the end of the experiments, tissue and blood samples were taken for histologic evaluation and serum biochemical parameters assay, separately. The obtained results showed a decrease in diameter of hepatocytes and hepatocytes nuclear diameter and also an increase of sinusoids volume (P<0.05) in the liver of treated animals. Furthermore, hepatic necrosis, local mononuclear leukocyte infiltration and centrilobular hepatic congestion were observed in the liver of experimental animals. In addition, serum levels of ALP, AST and ALT showed a significant increase in 200 mg/kg extract received animals in comparison with control (P<0.05). These findings showed that G. glabra could cause harmful impacts on the liver integrity, so caution should be paid to popular consumption of this plant. The present investigation also needs more histomorphometric studies to know the exact ultra structural changes occurred in rat liver by using electron microscopy technique.