effects of cynara scolymus L. leaf and cichorium intybus L. root extracts on carbon tetrachloride induced liver toxicity in rats

Cynara scolymus and Cichorium intybus are popular herbal remedy in folk medicine for liver disorders. Although many experimental studies carried out, scientifically reliable data needed to verify minimum effective dosage and efficacy of these medicinal plants. In present investigation, the effects of C. scolymus leaf and C. intybus root extracts at different doses were tested against CCl[4] induced rats liver toxicity. The C. scolymus leaf and C. intybus root extracts at the doses of 300, 600 and 900 and 150, 300 and 450 mg/kg/day were prepared respectively. Liver intoxication was induced in 7 groups of rats by intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml/kg of 1:1 CCl[4] in olive oil for two successive days. One group kept as control and six different doses of plant extracts were administered to six groups simultaneously with CCl[4] administration. The serum levels of ALT, AST and ALP, liver tissue glutathione and catalase activity as well as liver tissue microvesicular steatosis [MVS] and pericentral coagulation necrosis [PCN] were determined after three days. The serum ALT, AST and ALP and liver tissue MVS were significantly reduced in both the C. scolymus and C. intybus groups at the doses of 900 and 450 mg/kg/day respectively while liver tissue PCN significantly reduced in C. scolymus 900 mg/kg/day group only as compared to control group. In present study administration of the C. scolymus leaf [900 mg/kg/day] and C. intybus root [450 mg/kg/day] extracts ameliorated CCl[4] induced rat serum liver enzyme changes and liver tissue histopathological damage

effects of Taraxacum officinale L. and Berberis vulgaris L. root extracts on carbon tetrachloride induced liver toxicity in rats

Taraxacum officinale and Berberis vulgaris have long been used as herbal remedies for treatment of a variety of complaints including liver dysfunction and gallbladder disease. However scientifically reliable data are needed to verify their minimum effective doses. In present study, the effects of Taraxacum officinale L. and Berberis vulgaris L. root extracts at the different doses 10, 20 and 30 times higher than average dose [THD] used in traditional systems of medicines were tested against carbon tetrachloride [CCl4] induced liver toxicity in rats. Methods: The root extracts of T. officinale at doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg/day and B. vulgaris at doses of 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg/day, relative to 10, 20 and 30 THD average doses used in traditional systems of medicines were prepared by dissolving dry extracts in 5% dimethyl sulfoxide in distilled water. Eighty male Wistar rats, 5 months old, were divided in 8 groups of 10 rats each. Liver intoxication was induced in 7 groups by intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml/kg of 1:1 CCl4 in olive oil for two successive days. One group was kept as control and six different doses of medicinal plants extracts were administered to six groups simultaneously with CCl4 administration. After three days the serum levels of ALT, AST and ALP, liver tissue glutathione level and catalase activities as well as liver tissue microvesicular steatosis and pericentral coagulation necrosis were determined. In control group the blood levels of ALT, AST, ALP and liver tissue injury were increased whereas the serum GSH level and catalase activity decreased significantly after 3 days of beginning of carbon tetrachloride liver toxicity as compared to normal group. In T. officinale treated group at the dose of 750 mg/kg/day, the serum ALT and ALP levels and in B. vulgaris at the dose of 900 mg/kg/day, the serum ALP levels reduced significantly as compared to control group. The liver micro vesicular steatosis was inhibited significantly in both groups at the doses of 30 THD as compared to control group. In the present study administration of T. officinale and B. vulgaris root extracts at with 30 THD ameliorated CCl4 induced liver damage

Quantification of proteinuria with urinary protein to osmolality ratios in children

The ratio of urine protein to urine osmolality has recently been suggested as an accurate method to determine proteinuria. We studied the correlation of urine protein to urine osmolality ratio with 24-hr urinary protein excretion. 150 children aged 0.11-17 years admitted to the Department of Pediatric Nephrology were included in this study. Early morning urine samples and 24-hr urine specimens were collected and analyzed for protein, creatinine, and osmolality. The patients with chronic renal failure were not excluded. Two groups were established: Children with no proteinuria [group 1] and those with proteinuria [group 2]. The optimal cutoff value of abnormal proteinuria and nephrotic range proteinuria was determined to be a protein-osmolality ratio [Up/Uosm] 0.27 and 1.59 mg/1/mOsm respectively. The correlation of 24-hr urinary protein excretion withboth urinary protein/creatinine ratio [Up/Ucr] and Up/Uosm was highly significant [p<0.001]. According to the receiver operator characteristic [ROC] curves analysis, we found no differences between Up/Uosm and Up/Ucr ratios in detecting either abnormal proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome. Urine protein to urine osmolality ratio seems to be a simple and a valuable test for the assessment of the degree of proteinuria in children