Poster Presenter

Hepatoprotective Effects of Cynara Extract and Silymarin on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Damage in Rats
Amany A. Sleem and Nermeen Shafee
Cairo

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cynara extract alone or in combination with silymarin on the CCl₄-induced hepatic injury in rats. Cynara extract (30, 60 or 90 mg/kg), silymarin (25 mg/kg) or cynara (30, 60 or 90 mg/kg) combined with silymarin was given once daily orally simultaneously with CCl₄ and for 2 weeks thereafter. Liver damage was assessed by determining serum enzyme activities and hepatic histopathology. 5-ISMN given at the above doses conferred significant protection against the hepatotoxic actions of CCl₄ in rats, reducing serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels by 21, 24.3, and 35.8%, respectively compared to CCl₄ control group. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels decreased by 15.5, 39.6, and 44.3%, respectively, while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decreased by 21 and 25% by cynara at 60 and 90 mg/kg, respectively. In rats treated with cynara-silymarin combination, ALT decreased by 32.6, 34.5, and 51.6%, AST decreased by 20, 50.6, and 58.3%, while ALP deceased by 7.2, 22.4, and 29.7%. On the other hand, the administration of silymarin alone reduced ALT, AST and ALP levels by 55.3, 67.1 and 52.5%, respectively. These results suggest that treatment with cynara protects against CCl₄-induced hepatic injury in rats and might prove of value in treating chronic liver disease in man, although the combination of cynara-silymarin is not superior to silymarin alone. Cynara thus appears to reduce the protective effects of silymarin in this model of hepatic damage.