Original Article
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World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. Dec 6, 2010; 1(6): 123-131
Published online Dec 6, 2010. doi: 10.4292/wjgpt.v1.i6.123
Protective role of Juniperus phoenicea and Cupressus sempervirens against CCl4
Sanaa Ahmed Ali, Maha Zaki Rizk, Nabawia Ali Ibrahim, Mohga Shafik Abdallah, Hayat Mohamed Sharara, Magda Mohamed Moustafa
Sanaa Ahmed Ali, Maha Zaki Rizk, Magda Mohamed Moustafa, Department of Theraputical Chemistry, National Research Centre, El-Behooth Street, 12622 Dokki, Giza, Egypt
Nabawia Ali Ibrahim, Department of Pharmacognosy, National Research Centre, 12622 Dokki, Giza, Egypt
Mohga Shafik Abdallah, Hayat Mohamed Sharara, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Ein Helwan, 11790, Helwan, Egypt
Author contributions: All the authors contributed to this manuscript.
Correspondence to: Sanaa Ahmed Ali, Assistant Professor, Department of Therapeutic Chemistry, National Research Centre, El-Behooth Street, 12622 Dokki, Giza, Egypt. sanaa_ahmedibrahim@yahoo.com
Telephone: +20-2-33371433 Fax: +20-2-33370931
Received: August 18, 2010
Revised: October 31, 2010
Accepted: November 7, 2010
Published online: December 6, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the role of Cupressus sempervirens (C. sempervirens) and Juniperus phoenicea (J. phoenicea) extracts as therapeutic effect against CCl4 with biochemical, histopathological evaluations.

METHODS: A single intraperitoneal dose of 10% CCl4 in olive oil (1 mL/kg body weight) was administered to a group of female Wister rats, sacrificed after 24 h (as the injury group). The other groups were given CCl4 as described above and divided as follows: two groups of ten rats each were orally administered either J. phoenicea extract or C. sempervirens extract three times per week for six weeks and a further group administered CCl4 was left for six weeks to allow self-recovery. At the end of experiment, the rats from all groups were sacrificed for sampling and for biochemical and histological analysis.

RESULTS: Remarkable disturbances were observed in the levels of all tested parameters. On the other hand, rats injected with the toxic agent and left for one and a half month to self recover showed moderate improvements in the studied parameters while, treatment with both medicinal herbal extracts ameliorated the levels of the disturbed biochemical parameters. The group treated with J. phoenicea extract showed a remarkable improvement in comparison to the CCl4 treated group. The C. sempervirens group revealing an even more remarkable effect showing histopathological liver& kidney profiles close to those of the control group.

CONCLUSION: C. sempervirens and J. phoenicea leaf extracts show a remarkable effect in enhancing liver and kidney functions and may thus be of therapeutic potential in treatment hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

Keywords: Cupressus sempervirens; Juniperus phoenicea; Carbon tetrachloride; Hepatotoxicity; Nephrotoxicity