Evaluation of Hepatotoxicity of Common Doses of Decoction of Echium Amoenum Fisch and C.A. Mey in Rats

Introduction: Dried violet–blue petals of Echium amoenum Fisch. and C.A. Mey. (Boraginaceae) have long been used as a tonic, tranquillizer, diaphoretic and as a remedy for coughing, sore throat and common cold. These dried violet–blue petals are known in traditional medicine of Iran as Gol-e- Gavzaban. Because the decoction of its dry petals has hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, in the present study the hepatotoxicity of it has been evaluated. Methods: Three doses of 40 mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg of the dried extract of decoct of E. amoenum (according to the consumed doses by human) were administrated by oral gavages for 28 days in rats. Water as solvent was given to the control group. Each group contained five female and five male rats. In the 29th day serums were collected for liver function tests (AST, ALT, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphates) and livers were isolated for histopathologic study. Results: There were no significant difference between experimental and control groups in all tests (P>0.05) and histopathologic studies of livers showed no evidence of hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: The results suggest that decoction of E. amoenum has no hepatotoxicity.