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Background In spite of the huge advances in recent medicine, there is no effective drug that completely protects the liver from toxic materials. This study was conducted to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of arctigenin from burdock (Arctium lappa) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury. Results Arctigenin pre-administration reduced hepatotoxicity markers significantly as compared to CCl4 group. In addition, both silymarin and arctigenin declined matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the serum (1177 ± 176), (978 ± 135) significantly as compared to CCl4 group (1734 ± 294). The hepatic antioxidant parameters (total glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase) were significantly decreased after CCl4 injection, an effect that has been prevented by pre-administration of both silymarin and arctigenin. Histological examinations illustrated that arctigenin reduced CCl4 damage, where it decreased inflammation, congestion, and ballooning. Conclusions Arctigenin exerted a hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced liver damage in terms of suppressing MMP-2 and oxidative stress comparative to that of silymarin.

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Alopecia areata (AA) is a skin disorder affected about 2% of general population. 1 It is an autoimmune disease in which the hair follicles are attacked, and hair loss occurred in patches. 2 Both sexes male and female are equally affected, and the prevalence of all ethnicities is almost the same. 3 AA is neither painful nor life-threatening, but alopecic patients are at a high risk of mental health disorder like depression and anxiety. 4 The specific cause of AA is still unknown, since the trigger that activates the