title: Hepatoprotective activity of aqueous-methanol extract of Artemisia vulgaris.
abstract: The effect of a crude extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris (Av.Cr) was investigated against D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced hepatitis in mice. Co-administration of D-GalN (700 mg[sol ]kg) and LPS (1 microg[sol ]kg) significantly (p < 0.05) raised the plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in mice in the toxin group compared with the values in the control group. Pre-treatment of mice with different doses of Av.Cr (150-600 mg[sol ]kg) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the toxin-induced rise in plasma ALT and AST. The hepatoprotective effect was further verified by histopathology of the liver, which showed improved architecture, absence of parenchyma congestion, decreased cellular swelling and apoptotic cells, compared with the findings in the toxin group of animals. These findings scientifically validated the traditional use of Artemisia vulgaris for various liver disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. Anwar.gilani@aku.edu
authors.forename: Anwarul Hassan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gilani
authors.forename: Sheikh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yaeesh
authors.forename: Qamar
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jamal
authors.forename: M Nabeel
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ghayur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019306:Artemisia; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005688:Galactosamine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D005688:Galactosamine