title: Hepatoprotective properties of Commiphora opobalsamum ("Balessan"), a traditional medicinal plant of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The hepatoprotective activity of an ethanolic extract of Commiphora opobalsamum ("Balessan") was investigated in rats by inducing hepatotoxicity with carbon tetrachloride:liquid paraffin (1:1). This extract has been shown to possess significant protective effect by lowering serum transaminase levels (serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase), alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. Pretreatment with an extract of Balessan prevented the prolongation of the barbiturate sleeping time associated with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in mice. On the other hand, CCl4-induced low-level nonprotein sulfhydryl concentration in the liver was replenished by the Balessan extract. These data suggest that the plant C. opobalsamum may act as an antioxidant agent and may have a hepatoprotective effect.
authors.affiliation: Medicinal, Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Al-Howiriny
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Al-Sohaibani
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Al-Said
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Yahya
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: El-Tahir
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rafatullah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D029744:Commiphora; D005260:Female; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012529:Saudi Arabia
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride