title: Comparative anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of Astragalus gummifer Labill herb and roots in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Astragalus gummifer (F. Fabaceae), herb and roots were studied for anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The alcoholic extracts of Astragalus gummifer (F. Fabaceae), herb (AGHE), and roots (AGRE), were used for anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities in Wister rats. The effects of AGHE and AGRE were compared with the standard drugs Phenylbutazone and silymarin, for anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both extracts showed significant anti-inflammatory activity (P< 0.001). AGRE showed comparatively more significant hepatoprotective activity (P< 0.001), than AGHE (P< 0.05); at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight as manifested by lowering the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin. The hepatoprotective activity was, also, supported by total protein (TP), malondialdehyde (MDA), nonprotein sulfhydryls (NP-SH), and histo-pathological studies of liver tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of Astragalus gummifer. The results of present studies indicated that both AGHE and AGRE can be used in inflammatory conditions, while investigation supports the use of AGRE in cases that hepatoprotection are required in the hepatotoxic conditions. More supportive studies are required before clinical recommendation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Salman Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj-11942, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hasan Soliman
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yusufoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Salman Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj-11942, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Aftab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Salman Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj-11942, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed Mohammed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zaghloul
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Salman Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj-11942, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ayman
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-salkini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Salman Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj-11942, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Prawez
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D027884:Astragalus gummifer / Q000737:chemistry*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Astragalus gummifer; Biochemical; CCl4; Hepatoprotective; carrageenan