Effects of green tea on azathioprine - induced liver injury in adult male albino rats: light and electron microscopic study

Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive drug that is used inhuman medicine and veterinary medicine to treat different diseases like inflammatory bowel diseases, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. There is evidence that it causes hepatotoxicity. These days, applying antioxidants in order to prevent diseases can play a protecting role in liver tissue. So, the present work aimed at a morphological and morphometric evaluation of the role of green tea to protect against azathioprine-induced liver injury in rats. 30 adult male albino rats were divided into 3 groups; each group consisted of 10 rats. Control group, treated group given azathioprine in a dose of 25mg/Kg body weight dissolved in 0.9% NaCl orally via intragastric route 6 days a week for 8 weeks. Protected group given green tea extract in a dose of 175mg/Kg body weight dissolved in water orally simultaneously with azathioprine in the same previous dose, 6 days a week for 8 weeks. The liver specimens were processed for both light and electron microscopic examinations. Morphometric analysis were also carried out. Aza induced degenerative changes manifested at LM; hislological changes in structure of the liver. At EM; manifestations of oxidative damage of hepatocytes. At morphometry; significant changes as regards size of hepatocytes and glycogen content. The protected group showed at LM; improvement of structure of liver. At EM; improved histological changes of hepatocytes. At morphometry; significant improvement of size and glycogen content of hepatocytes. The negative effects of azathioprine could be ameliorated by addition of green tea to the therapeutic regime of patients who may suffer liver injury due to azathioprine treatment

Effect of green tea, curcumin and ginger extracts on serum lipid profile in rats after carbon tetrachloride exposure

Oxidative stress is a major factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of green tea, curcumin and ginger extracts or its combinations on the kidney and liver function for rats exposure to CCL4 injection. The results indicated that, green tea reduced food intake and body weight in rats. The food intake did not show any important variation between both dosage of tested herbs and aqueous extract of green tea, ginger and curcumin. Body weight gain percentage of the control positive group and other groups treated with herbs decreased significantly at [p< 0.05] as compared to the control negative group. The results observed that, rats suffering from CCL4 and treated with of green tea, curcumin and ginger or its combination were associated with decreased serum concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride, an increase in the proportion of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, and a decreased proportion of low and very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterols, as compared to positive control group