title: The protective effect of Phoenix dactylifera L. seeds against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In traditional Egyptian medicine, Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) seeds are listed in folk remedies for the management of diabetes, liver diseases and gastrointestinal disorders. The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of Phoenix dactylifera L. seeds aqueous suspension against the chemically-induced hepatic injury in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver injury was achieved by exposing Wistar rats to CCl4 (10% in olive oil; 0.5 mL/rat; IP) twice a week for 4 weeks. Along with CCl4, aqueous suspensions of raw or roasted Phoenix dactylifera seeds (1.0 g/kg) were administered orally in a daily manner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results demonstrated that Phoenix dactylifera seeds significantly improved the CCl4-induced alterations in liver function parameters (AST, ALT, ALP and albumin). Moreover, the CCl4-induced oxidative stress, represented by elevated thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), nitric oxide and oxidative DNA damage, was ameliorated by Phoenix dactylifera seeds treatment. In addition, Phoenix dactylifera seeds restored the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase) that were declined after CCl4 treatment. Examination of liver histopathology revealed that Phoenix dactylifera seeds attenuate the incidence of liver lesions (including vacuolization and fibroblast proliferation) triggered by CCl4 intoxication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Phoenix dactylifera seeds could be a promising candidate for protection against the CCl4-induced liver intoxication, and this hepatoprotective effect might be attributed to the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: dalia_abdelaziz@pharm.helwan.edu.eg.
authors.forename: Dalia H A
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Abdelaziz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: ganah_nour@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sahar A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004534:Egypt; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D065749:Phoeniceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride
keywords: Antioxidants; Carbon tetrachloride; Hepatoprotective; Oxidative stress; Phoenix dactylifera seeds