Rumex alveollatus hydroalcoholic extract protects CCL4-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

Some plants have high antioxidant properties that can improve the damage to the tissues of the body. Rumex alveollatus L. is proposed to contain flavonoids, a group of antioxidants that exert their protective effects against free radicals. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) is a factor that damages the liver. This study was carried out to explore the protective effects of Rumex alveollatus L. on the liver damage induced by CCl 4 in mice. In this experimental study, 30 male mice (35 ± 4) were divided into five groups, each with six mice. The negative control group was administered 0.5-ml olive oil; positive control group was administered 2-ml/kg CCl 4 plus olive oil at 1:1 ratio for 4 days, and the experimental groups were administered 2 ml/kg CCl 4 and Rumex alveollatus L. extract at 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg for 4 days. All administrations were done intraperitoneally. Twenty days later, blood samples were taken from the heart, and liver serum enzymes (ALT, AST, and ALP) were measured. After sacrificing the samples, liver samples were fixed in formalin to prepare the histological sections. Then, factors such as liver volume, hepatocytes, sinusoids, central veins, portal vein, bile duct, and hepatic artery were measured. Rumex alveollatus L. extract (450 mg/kg) reduced the serum level of all three liver enzymes (p < 0.05). At this dose, the volume of sinusoids, hepatocytes, and bile duct decreased significantly (p < 0.05), but the volume of portal vein and central vein increased significantly (p < 0.05). Rumex alveollatus L. extract has protective effects against CCl 4 -induced damages in the liver. © 2018, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.