The current study was undertaken to evaluate the protective activity of olive and rosemary leaves extracts on experimental liver cirrhosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in Wistar male rats. Highly significant decline in the values of body weight gain and highly statistically increase of liver/body weight ratio were noted in rats treated with TAA. Furthermore, the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin were statistically increased. Additionally, light microscopic examination of liver sections from rats treated with TAA showed a marked increase in the extracellular matrix collagen content and bridging fibrosis was prominent. There were bundles of collagen surrounding the lobules that resulted in large fibrous septa and distorted tissue architecture. Interestingly, the findings of this experimental study indicated that the extracts of olive and rosemary leaves and their combination possess hepatoprotective properties against TAA-induced hepatic cirrhosis by inhibiting the physiological and histopathological alterations. Moreover, these results suggest that the hepatoprotective effects of these extracts may be attributed to their antioxidant activities.

Physiologically, it is known that thioacetamide (TAA) toxicity is generally associated with hepatic fibrosis induction, complicated metabolic disorders and health problems. The capability of extracts of olive and rosemary leaves to attenuate the severe physiological disturbances induced by thioacetamide (TAA) intoxication in male rats has been evaluated. Healthy male Wistar rats were used in the present study and were divided randomly into eight groups. Rats of the first group were served as normal control. Rats of the second group were administrated with TAA. Rats of the third, fourth and fifth groups were exposed to TAA plus olive leaves extract, TAA plus rosemary leaves extract and TAA plus olive and rosemary leaves extracts respectively. The sixth, seventh and eighth groups were supplemented with olive leaves extract, rosemary leaves extract, and olive and rosemary leaves extracts respectively. After 12 weeks of experimental treatments, the levels of serum glucose, total protein, albumin and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly decreased, while the levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were statistically increased in rats exposed to TAA. Administration of the studied extracts inhibited the hematobiochemical parameters and improved the physiological disturbances induced by TAA intoxication. Additionally, most improvements were noted in rats administrated with rosemary leaves extract followed by olive and rosemary leaves extracts and olive leaves extract. These results suggested that the effect of these extracts might be due to their antioxidant activities against TAA toxicity.