title: Hepatoprotective effect of Cymbopogon citratus aqueous extract against hydrogen peroxide-induced liver injury in male rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cymbopogon citratus (Poaceae) a tropical perennial herb plant that is widely cultivated to be eaten either fresh with food or dried in tea or soft drink has been reported to possess a number of medicinal and aromatic properties. This study aimed at evaluating the protective effects of C. citratus aqueous extract against liver injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), in male rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five rats were randomly divided into five different groups of five animals in each group; (1) Control. (2) Received H2O2 (0.5%) with drinking water. (3), and (4) received H2O2 and C. citratus (100 mg·kg(-1) b wt), vitamin C (250 mg·kg(-1) b wt) respectively. (5), was given C. citratus alone. The treatments were administered for 30 days. Blood samples were collected and serum was used for biochemical assay including liver enzymes activities, total protein, total bilirubin and malonaldehyde, glutathione in serum and liver homogenates. Liver was excised and routinely processed for histological examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C. citratus attenuated liver damage due to H2O2 administration as indicated by the significant reduction (p<0.05), in the elevated levels of ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, TB, and MDA in serum and liver homogenates; increase in TP and GSH levels in serum and liver homogenates; and improvement of liver histo-pathological changes. These effects of the extract were similar to that of vitamin C which used as antioxidant reference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C. citratus could effectively ameliorate H2O2-induced oxidative stress and prevent liver injury in male rats.
authors.affiliation: Dept.of Biology, Faculty of Education, University of Tikrit, 34001Tikrit,Salah Aldeen, Iraq ; School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, D.E., Malaysia.
authors.forename: Saleh Muhammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rahim
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Ekhlass Muhi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.affiliation: Dept.of Biology, Faculty of Education, University of Tikrit, 34001Tikrit,Salah Aldeen, Iraq.
authors.forename: Muneef Saeb
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Al-janabi
authors.affiliation: Dept.of Biology, Faculty of Education, University of Tikrit, 34001Tikrit,Salah Aldeen, Iraq.
authors.forename: Bushra Ismael
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Al-douri
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, D.E., Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kumar Das
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, D.E., Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abd Gaffar
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mazlan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Cymbopogon citratus; Histopathology; Hydrogen peroxide; Liver enzymes; Rat; Serum proteins; Vitamin C