Hydroalcoholic extract of Iranian Caper leaves protects hepatic toxicity by suppressing oxidative stress in mice

Capparis spinosa L. (Caper) is known as an aromatic plant, commonly used in Mediterranean diet, possessing numerous antioxidant compounds such as phenols, rutin, tocopherols, carotenoids, and vitamin C in its leaves. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of Iranian Caper leaves extract on oxidative stress caused by CCl4 in mice liver. In this study, a total number of 42 Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) male mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 7 animals in each group. The control group, the sham group, CCl4 group, Iranian Caper leaves extract 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg + CCl4 groups. Then Biochemicals, oxidative stress and hepatic histopathology parameters evaluated. The results showed that co-administration of Iranian Caper leaves extract and CCl4 significantly (P<0.001) decreased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and also significantly (P<0.01) increased the levels of glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) in comparison with the group treated with CCl4 alone. Furthermore, the findings revealed that Iranian Caper leaves extract improved histopathological changes such as vacillation of vessels, necrosis of hepatocytes, infiltration of inflammatory cells, as well as dilated sinusoids. It concluded that Iranian Caper has protective effects on hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4, mainly through suppression oxidative stress.