The present study aimed to study the protective effect of alpha- Asarone in CCL4-induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rats. The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups each containing six rats. CCL4 was given at a dosage of 0.5 mL/kg to produce hepatotoxicity, and serum AST, ALT, total bilirubin, and albumin, as well as hepatic hydroxyproline (HP), reduced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA), cytokines, and NO, were assessed. CCL4 treatment resulted in a decrease in body weight and an increase in liver weight in rats, while treatment with α- Asarone resulted in normal body and liver weight. Serum AST, ALT, total bilirubin, HP, GSH, MDA, and cytokines were increased in CCL4 treated rats. α- Asarone-treated rats showed a reduction in oxidative stress as well as inhibited the release of cytokines in dose dependent manner and showed protection against hepatotoxicity. From the study, we conclude that, α- Asarone has a protective effect against the hepatotoxicity induced by CCL4.
Keywords: CCL4; Hepatotoxicity; ALT; oxidative stress; α- Asarone; Cytokine.