Effect of Cichorium intybus L. on fatty liver induced by oxytetracycline in albino rats

ABSTRACT

Fatty liver is now one of the most common diseases in Egypt. People prefer to use the medicinal plants instead of using chemical compounds because they are cheap and have few side effects compared to chemical compounds.The current investigation was carried out to examine the possible potential therapeutic and protective effects of Cichorium intybus [chicory] against oxytetracyclin-induced fatty liver in an attempt to understand its mechanism of action, which may pave the way for possible therapeutic applications. Albino rats were divided into two major groups, 15 rats for each. The first group was divided into three sub-groups a] control, b] fatty liver group; that was injected intraperitonealy with oxytetracycline [120mg/kg] for three consecutive days resulting in steatosis and c] chicory treated group; which was treated with chicory water extract [70 mg/kg] for 30 days after fatty liver induction . All animals were scarified after 33 days of the beginning of the experiment. The second group was divided into three subgroups a] control, b] fatty liver group; that was injected intraperitonealy with oxytetracycline [120mg/kg] for three consecutive days and c] drug protection group; which received chicory for 15 days before induction of fatty liver, then sacrificed after induction of fatty liver [3 days]. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Liver specimens were obtained and fixed in 10% formalin for histological study. Fatty liver groups showed high significant increase in serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, ALAT, ASAT, GGT, LDH, urea, creatinine and A/G ratio while total protein, albumin, globulin and HDL cholesterol were significantly decreased compared to control group. These biochemical changes were accompanied with histopathological alterations in fatty liver tissue. The treatment with chicory ameliorated most of the evaluated biochemical parameters and improved the induced degenerative histopathological changes. The pre-treatment with chicory before the induction of fatty liver gave some protection against factors that experimentally induced fatty liver. Chicory as diet additive is recommend for fatty liver patients or those people who have hyperlipidemic family history