RESUMO
Ajwa, a variety of date palme Phoenix dactylifera L., has long been used and considered as one of the most popular fruits in the North Africa and Middle East region. For Muslims this fruit is of religious importance and is mentioned several times in Quran. Besides being a part of the Arabian essential diet, dates have been used traditionally for number of complications. This study aimed to evaluate the possible potential of Ajwa date extract to guard against carbon tetrachloride [CCL[4]-induced liver damage in rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were given Ajwa date extract and silymarin [a standard reference drug] at doses of 300 and 50mg/kg, p.o., respectively for 2 weeks before CCU [2 ml/kg, s. c., twice weekly for 8 consecutive weeks], and concomitantly administered with CC1[4] for 8 consecutive weeks. Like silymarin, Ajwa date extract produced significant decrease in serum levels of alanine transaminase [ALT], aspartate transaminase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], total cholesterol, triglycerides [TG] and LDL-cholesterol as well as lipid peroxides measured as malondialdehyde [MDA], hydroxyproline and caspase-3 contents of liver tissue with marked increase in serum albumin, HDL-cholesterol and reduced glutathione [GSH] content as well as enzyme activities of super oxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT] and glutathione-S-transferase [GST]. In conclusion, Ajwa date extract afforded significant protection against CCLrinduced hepatocellular injury; an effect that could be attributed to its antioxidant, antiapoptotic and antifibrotic activities