Protective Effects of Green tea (Camelia sinensis), Hypericum perforatum and Urtica dioica on Hepatic Injury and Lymphocyte DNA Damage Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Wistar Rats

Abstract

The present study was planned to investigate the protective effects of herbal methanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum (HP) and Urtica dioica (UD) and herbal agueous extract of Camelia sinensis (CS)containing antioxidants on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury and lymphocyte DNA damage. Adult male albino rats (n 50) were separated into five groups of ten each, as follows: control group; CCl4, group; CCl4+HP extract group; CCl4+UD extract group; CCl4+CS extract group. All extract groups were fed with 200 mg kg(-1) extracts of HP, CS and UD, respectively once every alternate day for 7 weeks. CCl4 injections were applied to the CCl4 and extract groups at the dose of 0.4 mL kg(-1). Malondialdehyde, total oxidant status and total antioxidative capacity levels and catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly changed in the CCl4 group and indicated increased oxidative stress. The DNA damages detected via commet assay were significantly higher than in the CCl4 group. Treatment by extracts of HP, CS or UD were significantly decreased this oxidative stress and ameliorated lymphocyte DNA damage. These results indicate that the herbal extracts of HP, UC and CS have beneficial effects on liver and lymphocyte DNA damage induced by CCl4 probably due to their antioxidant properties.