Impact of alcoholic Artemisia extract on liver toxicity in albino rats

Abstract

This study examined the hepatoprotective effects of alcoholic Artemisia extract on liver damage caused by copper oxide (CuO) in albino rats. Artemisia, a medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, and essential oil antioxidant compounds.

Method: It was prepared as a 70% ethanol extract and administered in two doses (300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg). A total of 35 rats were divided into five groups: control negative, control positive (CuO at a dose of 50 mg/kg BW orally once every 48 hours), and group three received Artemisia alcoholic extract at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Group four received Artemisia extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg, and group five received a multivitamin at a dose of 12000 IU/kg BW orally. All treated groups received the dosage orally once daily for a period of 3 weeks.

Results: Liver enzyme levels (AST, ALT, ALP) were significantly elevated in the CuO-only group, indicating liver toxicity. Treatment with Artemisia extract (both doses) and Vitamin A significantly reduced these enzyme levels, demonstrating a protective effect of liver from toxicity and Histopathological analysis confirmed that Artemisia extract improved liver tissue integrity, reducing signs of severe inflammatory cell infiltration in the portal area around the blood vessels (perivascular leukocyte cuffing, fatty degeneration, and congestion; severe dilatation of sinusoidal space of hepatic tissue; coagulative necrosis haemorrhagic changes; muscular layer hyperplasia damage of vein wall; and mild fibrosis around bile duct and portal vein in toxic liver).