title: Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Tamarix nilotica flowers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb.) Bunge (Tamaricaceae) is used in the Egyptian traditional medicine as an antiseptic agent. This plant has been known since pharaonic times and has been mentioned in medical papyri to expel fever, relieve headache, to draw out inflammation, and as an aphrodisiac. No scientific study is available about the biological effect of this plant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the hydro-alcoholic extract (80%) of T. nilotica flowers for hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatoprotective activity was assessed using carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury in rats by monitoring biochemical parameters. Antioxidant activity was evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Biochemical markers of hepatic damage such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and tissue glutathione were determined in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carbon tetrachloride (5 mL/kg body weight) enhanced the SGOT, SGPT, and ALP levels. There was a marked reduction in tissue glutathione level in diabetic rats. The hydro-alcoholic extract of T. nilotica (100 mg/kg body weight) ameliorated the adverse effects of carbon tetrachloride and returned the altered levels of biochemical markers near to the normal levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Sueif University, Beni-Sueif, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sameh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abouzid
authors.forename: Amany
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sleem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects*; D035264:Flowers; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032363:Tamaricaceae
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012838:Silymarin; D005978:Glutathione