RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The present study investigated the protective role of Hyparrhenia hirta (H. hirta) against sodium nitrate (NaNO3)-induced hepatoxicity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: a control group and two treated groups during 50 d with NaNO3 administered either alone in drinking water or co-administered with H. hirta.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NaNO3 treatment induced a significant increase in serum levels of glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride while serum total protein level decreased significantly. Transaminases and lactate deshydrogenase activities in serum were elevated indicating hepatic cells' damage after treatment with NaNO3. The hyperbilirubinemia and the increased serum gamma glutamyl transferase activities suggested the presence of cholestasis in NaNO3 exposed rats. In parallel, a significant increase in malondialdehyde level along with a concomitant decrease in total glutathione content and superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were observed in the liver after NaNO3 treatment. Furthermore, nitrate caused a significant induction of DNA fragmentation. These modifications in NaNO3-treated rats corresponded histologically with hepatocellular necrosis and mononuclear cells infiltration. H. hirta supplementation showed a remarkable amelioration of the abnormalities cited above.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results concluded that the treatment with H. hirta had a significant role in protecting the animals from nitrate-induced liver dysfunction.</p>