Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Gazi Universitesi Eczacilik Fakultesi Dergisi, cilt.18, sa.2, ss.135-141, 2001 (Scopus)
The role of folk remedies employed in the treatment of liver diseases was investigated in order to evaluate their healing potential after hepatotoxin challenging. For this purpose, effects of extracts on the liver tissue of rats after carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration were monitored by measuring the mineral levels i.e. zinc, iron and copper by atomic absorption spectrometry as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels with a colorimetric technique. The ethanolic extracts from the herbs of Carduus acanthoides, C. nutans, Cichorium intybus (Asteraceae), Fumaria asepalae, F. vailantii (Fumariaceae), Gentiana olivieri (Gentianaceae), Plantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae) and either from the stem, receptaculum and bracts of Cynara scolymus (Asteraceae) were studied. A significant increase was found in the MDA levels of CCl4-treated group, while the alterations in zinc, copper and iron levels were not found statistically meaningful. However, P. lanceolata, C. intybus, C. nutans and C. scolymus extracts significantly decreased the zinc level of liver (53.2%, 47.1%, 61.3% and 27.6%, respectively). On the other hand, copper level found to be increased upto 164.1% by the extract of C. acanthoides. Effect of these plant extracts on trace elements' metabolism need to be investigated. Nevertheless, due to the lack of negative effect on trace element metabolism as well as capability in maintaining the normal MDA levels which supported the previous biochemical and histopathological studies, G. olivieri and C. scolymus (receptaculum) extracts were selected for further detailed studies.