Assessment of the Hepatoprotective Activity of Tragopogon graminifolius DC. Aqueous Extract on CCl4- Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

Background and objectives: Tragopogon graminifolius DC. is widely used in Iranian traditional medicine as a gastro-protective and wound healer agent.  In the present study the hepatoprotective property of T. graminifolius DC. aqueous extract (TGAE) was investigated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatocellular injury in mice. Methods:  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 TGAE (TGAE30, TGAE90 and TGAE270), respectively. At the end of the 45-day treatment, the mice of all groups were euthanized, then blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical and histological parameters analysis. The data was analyzed by one way variance analysis and Duncan’s test using SPSS 21. Results:  Different doses of TGAE (especially TGAE270) could significantly (p≤0.05) reduce the raised levels of ALP, AST, ALT, Cholesterol, LDL and increased HDL, SOD, CAT as compared to the untreated group. The weight and volume of the hepatic structures decreased significantly (p≤0.05) in several doses of TGAE (especially TGAE270) when compared to the untreated group. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that under the present experimental conditions, TGAE indicated hepatoprotective abilities against CCl4 induced liver damage in mice.