Screening of traditional Saudi plants for hepatoprotective effect

The liver is an organ of prime importance and plays a significant role in metabolism and detoxification of exogenous agents. Numerous herbal extracts are used for liver problems, however, considerable number of them lack the scientific prove for these claims. Twenty five plants used for liver problems in Saudi folk medicine were collected or purchased from the local market in Riyadh city for the present study. We adopted a hepatoprotective assay using Wistar albino rats as animal model and CCl₄ to induce liver injury. Animals in the test groups were treated with 250 and 500mg/kg body weight of 90% total alcohol extracts of the selected plants 5 days prior to CCl₄. The biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin were estimated by reported methods as indication for liver condition [1–3]. The livers of treated animals were immediately removed and a small piece was fixed in 10% formalin for histopathological assessment. The histological appearance of the hepatocyte reflects their conditions [4]. Exposure of hepatocytes to toxic agents such as CCl₄ leads to significant histopathological changes. Good protection is reflected by minimization of the changes resulted from CCl₄ treatment. Solanum nigrum (30.1, 34.6, 21.7, 28.8), Balanites aegyptiaca (28.7, 29.9, 21.5, 38.4), Ecbalium elaterium (26.6, 34.7, 9.7, 21.4), Terminalia chebula (52.8, 22.3, 17.2, 31.4), Cleome droserifolia (36.0, 40.1, 23.9, 35.9), Aloe vera (19.2, 36.3, 21.1, 43.6), Juniperus phoenicea (43.5, 32.4, 20.8, 34.6), Fumaria parviflora (24.3, 21.6, 20.5, 11.3), Momordica balsamina (37.5, 39.1, 23.2, 52.7) and Bee Propolis (29.4, 37.3, 25.5, 30.1) showed significant %reductions in the elevated levels of SGOT, SGPT, ALP and bilirubin as indicated in bracets respectively. The liver of animals treated with the 500mg/kg of these extracts were subjected to histopathological study where Momordica balsamina was the best in restoring the normal appearance of hepatocytes exposed to CCl₄ toxicity.

Acknowledgements: The work was supported by grants from KACST, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Dr. Alqasoumi. The authors are grateful to Dr Abdulmalik M. AlSheikh for help in the histopathological study, Mr. Ali D. Al-Sawadi and Mr. Malik Sawood for technical assistance.

References: 1. Edwards, C.R.W., Bouchier, I.A.D. (1991) Davidson's Principles & Practice Medicine. Churchill Livingstone Press, UK. 2. Kind, P.R.N., King, E.J.J. (1954)J. Clin. Pathol. 7:322–326. 3. Reitman, S., Frankel, S.A. (1957) Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 28:56–63. 4. Edna, B.P. et al. (1994) Laboratory Methods in Histology. American Registry of Pathology, Washington, D.C.