Hepatoprotective effects of hydroethanolic extracts of Crocus sativus tepals, stigmas and leaves on carbon tetrachloride induced acute liver injury in rats
Authors:   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Ouahhoud Sabir , Touiss Ilham ,   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Khoulati Amine ,   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Lahmass Iliass ,   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Mamri Samira ,   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Mezianeر Mouhssine ,   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Elassri Soufiane ,   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Bencheikh Noureddine ,   Laboratory of Physiology, Genetics, and Ethnopharmacology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Benabbas Redouane ,   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Asehraou Abdeslam ,   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Choukri Mohammed ,   Laboratory of Biochemistry, Central Laboratory Service - CHU, Mohammed VI, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco, Saalaoui Ennouamane ,   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed Premier, Oujda, Morocco
Published: July 2021

Introduction: The present study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of stigmas, tepals and leaves of Crocus sativus on carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) induced liver injury in rats. Methods: Hydroethanolic extracts of Crocus sativus (stigmas, tepals and leaves) were administrated daily for 14 days by oral gavage. In the present study, 30 male rats divided into five groups were treated as 1: normal rats gavaged with distilled water; 2: intoxicated rats gavaged with distilled water and injected with CCL4; 3: rats treated with stigmas extract and injected with CCL4; 4: rats treated with tepal extract and injected with CCL4; 5: rats treated with leaf extract and injected with CCL4. Bodyweight and the relative liver weight were determined. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol, triglycerides, bilirubin direct and total, total protein, albumin, urea and creatinine measured in plasma. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was quantified in liver homogenate. Results: The experimental data showed that the stigmas and tepals extracts significantly prevented weight body loss and improved the relative liver weight. They significantly protected against elevation of ALT, AST, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, LDH, ALP, creatinine and MDA. Also, they enhanced significantly total proteins and albumin compared to the CCL4 control group. Moreover, leaves reduced ALT, AST, total bilirubin, LDH and MDA significantly. Conclusion: In conclusion, these results suggest that tepals, stigmas, and leaves extracts of Crocus sativus have hepatoprotective effects on CCL4 induced liver injury in rats.