Study of the hepatoprotective activity of ethanol extract of local propolis in rabbits

Abstract

The present study has been conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of ethanol extract of local propolis at Al-Diwaniyahprovence against CCl4 induce oxidative stress and liver dysfunction in white male rabbits .Twenty four male rabbits were randomly divided in four groups with (6) animal each , the first group was received distilled water (2.5 ml. orally) daily for three weeks then injected with distilled water at( 2.5 ml. subcutaneous) two times at (36) hours interval and considered as control group , the second group was drenched with Ethanol Extract of Propolis (EEP) at dose of (75 mg/kg .BadyWight) daily for three weeks then rabbits were injected with distilled water( 0.25 ml/kg. BadyWight. Subcutaneous) two times at (36) hours interval . The third group was pretreated with Ethanol Extract of Propolis at dose of (75 mg/kg BadyWight. orally) daily for three weeks then were injected with CCl4 at dose of( 0.25 ml/kg Bady Wight .subcutaneous) two times at (36) hour interval , whereas the last group was received distilled water( 2.5 ml.orally) daily for three weeks after that they were injected with CCl4 at dose of (0.25 ml/kg. BadyWight. Subcutaneous) two times at (36) hours interval .At the end of experiment serum samples were collected from rabbits to determine the serum Glutathione (GSH) , then animals were sacrificed where the liver was excised to be examined macroscopically and microscopically.The serum GSH level was significantly (Propapilty≤0.05) decreased after CCl4 injection . A remarkable macroscopic and microscopic pathological alterations were detected after CCl4 administration characterized by necrosis and degeneration of hepatic tissue . Pretreatment with EEP before CCl4 injections significantly reverse the marked decrease of serum GSH also there is improvement in hepatic histoarchitecture. . It was concluded that EEP had the potential antioxidant activities as well as, hepatoprotective efficacy.