The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Oak fruit husks on liver in Rat (Wistar).

Introduction: The revitalizing properties of medicinal herbs have long been an interest of human beings. Oak (Quercus castaneifolia) is a tree that is widely used in herbal medicine in addition to boasting some nutritional values. Given that some medicinal plants have certain side effects, the present study investigates the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of oak fruit husk on liver function in rats. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 50 Wistar rats weighing approximately 200 ± 15 g were taken and housed under standard conditions. After determining the lethal dose of the hydroalcoholic extract of oak fruit husk and consequently its preparation, 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg/w.bt doses of the extract were selected and injected intraperitoneally to the treatment rats on a daily basis. The rats were divided into five groups, including the negative control group (receiving no treatments), the sham control group (receiving oak fruit husk solvent) and three treatment groups. After 21 days, the blood samples of rats were collected and the serums were biochemically analyzed. Data obtained were then analyzed in SPPS-17 software using the ANOVA test and the groups were compared with each other using Duncan's post hoc test. Results: According to results obtained, the serum levels of all three liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase) had significantly increased in the treatment groups compared to the negative and sham control groups (p<0.01). In the treatment group, with the maximum dose of the extract, protein, cholesterol and LDH had significantly decreased. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of oak fruit husk disrupts liver function, and this disruption appears to be due to the doses used. It is therefore recommended to remove the oak fruit husk from the acorn prior to consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]