1. Hepatoprotective properties of Commiphora opobalsamum ("Balessan"), a traditional medicinal plant of Saudi Arabia.
- Author
-
Al-Howiriny TA, Al-Sohaibani MO, Al-Said MS, Al-Yahya MA, El-Tahir KH, and Rafatullah S
- Subjects
- Animals, Carbon Tetrachloride toxicity, Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Female, Male, Mice, Plant Components, Aerial, Plant Extracts isolation & purification, Plant Extracts therapeutic use, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Saudi Arabia, Commiphora, Liver Diseases pathology, Liver Diseases prevention & control, Medicine, Traditional, Plants, Medicinal
- Abstract
The hepatoprotective activity of an ethanolic extract of Commiphora opobalsamum ("Balessan") was investigated in rats by inducing hepatotoxicity with carbon tetrachloride:liquid paraffin (1:1). This extract has been shown to possess significant protective effect by lowering serum transaminase levels (serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase), alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. Pretreatment with an extract of Balessan prevented the prolongation of the barbiturate sleeping time associated with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in mice. On the other hand, CCl4-induced low-level nonprotein sulfhydryl concentration in the liver was replenished by the Balessan extract. These data suggest that the plant C. opobalsamum may act as an antioxidant agent and may have a hepatoprotective effect.
- Published
- 2004