The ameliorative potential of Sophora alopecuroides essential oil on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in mice; a stereological study

Abstract

<strong>Background and objectives</strong>: <em>Sophora alopecuroides, </em>one of the most important herbal medicines is widely grown in west of Iran, and has a long history for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, leucorrhea, eczema, and psoriasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effect of <em>Sophora alopecuroides </em>essential oil on CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. <strong>Methods:</strong> Thirty five male mice were divided into five groups; group I as the negative control, received olive oil intraperitoneally and distilled water orally. Group II as the positive control, received CCl₄ mixed with olive oil in the ratio of 5:5, intraperitoneally and distilled water orally. Group III, IV and V received CCl₄ and 200, 800 and 1600 µg/kg of <em>S</em><em>. </em><em>alopecuroides </em>essential oil through gavages for 45 consecutive days. <strong>Results:</strong> The results showed that low and intermediate doses of <em>S</em><em>. </em><em>alopecuroides</em> essential oil significantly decreased the raised levels of Alanine aminotrasferase and Aspartate aminotransaminase toward control levels (<em>p</em><0.05). Alkaline phosphatase was improved with tree examined doses of <em>S</em><em>. </em><em>alopecuroides</em> essential oil. The volume and weight of the liver, as well as the volume of hepatocytes and sinusoids which had increased significantly in the positive control group (<em>p</em><0.05), decreased significantly following treatment by low dose of <em>S</em><em>. </em><em>alopecuroides</em> essential oil (<em>p</em><0.05). <strong>Conclusion:</strong> It was concluded that although <em>Sophora alopecuroides</em>essential could protect liver against CCl₄-induced toxicity at lower doses, further studies would be needed to define the selective dose of this plant against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity.