DOI: 10.4103/mjbl.mjbl_8_24 ISSN: 1812-156X
Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Alhagi maurorum on Drug-Induced Liver Injury by Sulfadimidine
Nada Mahdi Alkhafaji, Hussain Jasim Alharbi Abstract
Background:
Alhagi maurorum
was a plant that was utilized in ancient times in traditional medicine because it was beneficial for treating many diseases, such as liver disorders. Drugs were one of several reasons that caused liver damage (drug-induced liver injury [DILI]). Many sulfa drugs used to treat certain diseases were proven to cause hepatotoxicity in both humans and animals.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of
A. maurorum
, an ancient medical folklore remedy, on liver damage induced by a sulfa drug, which was used as an antibiotic for human and veterinary purposes that may accumulate in the tissues of animals.
Materials and Methods:
We prepared the ethanolic extract of
A. maurorum
at two concentrations (300 and 600 mg/kg) and administered to albino male rats before and after inducing liver injury when injected with the sulfadimidine (SDD) drug (dose of 40 mg/kg). We estimated the levels of liver enzymes, such as aminotransferases (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]). We studied the histopathology of liver tissue by hematoxylin and eosin stain.
Results:
The biochemical analysis of serum liver enzymes proved an increase in the ALT, AST, and ALP levels. Histopathological study of the liver revealed the benefit of Alhagi plant extracts in reducing these enzyme levels in liver tissue recovery from the toxic effects of the drug.
Conclusion:
From the current study, it appeared that the Alhagi plant exhibits a protective and therapeutic effect on animals with liver damage induced by injecting SDD drugs.