Brief Reports
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2005; 11(42): 6684-6688
Published online Nov 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i42.6684
Hepatoprotective effects of Nigella sativa L and Urtica dioica L on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and liver enzymes in carbon tetrachloride-treated rats
Mehmet Kanter, Omer Coskun, Mustafa Budancamanak
Mehmet Kanter, Omer Coskun, Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
Mustafa Budancamanak, Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Mehmet Kanter, Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey. mehmetkanter65@hotmail.com
Telephone: +90-284-2357641 Fax: +90-284-2352730
Received: July 23, 2005
Revised: September 25, 2005
Accepted: September 27, 2005
Published online: November 14, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effects of Nigella sativa L (NS) and Urtica dioica L (UD) on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and liver enzymes in CCl4-treated rats.

METHODS: Fifty-six healthy male Wistar albino rats were used in this study. The rats were randomly allotted into one of the four experimental groups: A (CCl4-only treated), B (CCl4+UD treated), C (CCl4+NS treated) and D (CCl4+UD+NS treated), each containing 14 animals. All groups received CCl4 (0.8 mL/kg of body weight, sc, twice a week for 60 d). In addition, B, C and D groups also received daily i.p. injections of 0.2 mL/kg NS or/and 2 mL/kg UD oils for 60 d. Group A, on the other hand, received only 2 mL/kg normal saline solution for 60 d. Blood samples for the biochemical analysis were taken by cardiac puncture from randomly chosen-seven rats in each treatment group at beginning and on the 60th d of the experiment.

RESULTS: The CCl4 treatment for 60 d increased the lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes, and also decreased the antioxidant enzyme levels. NS or UD treatment (alone or combination) for 60 d decreased the elevated lipid peroxidation and liver enzyme levels and also increased the reduced antioxidant enzyme levels. The weight of rats decreased in group A, and increased in groups B, C and D.

CONCLUSION: NS and UD decrease the lipid per-oxidation and liver enzymes, and increase the anti-oxidant defense system activity in the CCl4-treated rats.

Keywords: CCl4, Nigella sativa L., Urtica dioica L., Lipid peroxidation, Antioxidant enzymes, Rat