ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of olive leaf extract [OLE] and pomegranate peel extract [PPE] against oxytetracycline [OTC]-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. The ethanolic extracts of olive leaf and pomegranate peel were screened for evaluating their free radical scavenging properties and total phenolic contents. They have a great antioxidant activity due to phenolic compounds. The protective role of the two examined extracts against OTC-induced alternation in blood biochemical and liver architecture was evaluated in male albino rats. OTC [200 mg/kg b.wt] was intraperitoneally [i.p.] injected for 15 days to assess the changes in biochemical parameters. OLE [80 mg / kg b.wt] or PPE [100 mg / kg b.wt] were administered by oral gavage into rats for 30 days to evaluate the potency of these extracts. The examined extracts were administered 15 days before and 15 days concomitantly with OTC. Blood samples were withdrawn at day 30 for determination of serum aminotransferases activity [ALT and AST], total protein [TP] albumin [Alb], total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], urea, creatinine, plasma malondialdehyde [MDA] and blood reduced glutathione [GSH]. At the end of the experiment, the liver samples were taken for the histopathological examination. The obtained results revealed that the i.p. injection of OTC induced a significant increase in ALT and AST activity as well as TC,TG, urea, creatinine and plasma MDA, meanwhile a significant decrease in the levels of TP, Alb and blood GSH were obtained. These biochemical changes were associated with alternations in the architecture of liver tissue. The obtained results revealed that, the sole administration of OLE or PPE displayed no change in the examined parameters. The results also revealed the improving and protective effect of the pre and co-administration of the test extracts against the undue effects of OTC