Protective and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Origanum vulgare on oxidative stress, TNF-α gene expression and liver histological changes in paraquat-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Abstract

Context: Toxicity with paraquat can lead to serious damages to the liver.

Objective: The study investigates the protective effects of Origanum vulgare leaf extract against paraquat liver damage.

Material and methods: Rats were divided into six groups. Group 1, the control group; group 2, rats that received paraquat only; group 3, rats that received paraquat plus silymarin; and groups 4, 5, and 6 were treated with paraquat and O. vulgare leaf extract. Then, the serum and tissue parameters of the oxidative stress were examined.

Results: In group 2, paraquat caused a remarkable increase in the level of serum ALT, AST, ALP, lipid profiles, and liver TNF-α gene expression compared to group 1. The groups which received O. vulgare leaf extract exhibited significant ameliorations in abnormalities of paraquat-induced liver damage and serum biochemical parameters.

Conclusion: O. vulgare leaf extract has inhibitory effects on paraquat-induced liver damage due to its antioxidant properties.

Keywords:

• Hepatotoxicity
• histological changes
• paraquat
• Origanum vulgare
• oxidative stress

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to those who have helped us in Clinical Biochemistry Research Centre of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. The results described in this paper were the MS dissertation of Mr. Ali Sharifi-Rigi.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences [grant no. 2233], Shahrekord, Iran.