Protective effects ofTrifolium alexandrinumL. against lung injury induced by environmental toxin CCl4in experimental rats.
BACKGROUND
In Pakistan numerous medicinal floras has used in the treatment of various human ailments. Among themTrifolium alexandrinumL. is traditionally used in the curing of disease. Presently we designed to ascertain the protective role ofTrifolium alexandrinummethanolic extracts (TAME) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced lung injury and oxidative stress in rats.


METHODS
Exposure to CCl4induces oxidative stress and causes tissue damage by the induction of CCl4free radicals. Twenty-four male albino rats were divided equally into four groups. Rats in group I had free access to drinking water and laboratory food. Group II was treated with 1 ml/kg body weight (b.w.) CCl4(30% in olive oil). Groups III and IV rats were fed (p.o.) 200 mg/kg b.w. TAME and 50 mg/kg b.w. silymarin after 24 h of CCl4treatment for 2 weeks.


RESULTS
Administration of CCl4caused a significant (p<0.01) decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase), and glutathione contents were decreased; however, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were increased (p<0.01). The alterations caused by CCl4were significantly (p<0.01) reversed toward control levels by supplementation of TAME and silymarin.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that in rats TAME and silymarin could protect the lungs against CCl4-induced oxidative damage.
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; Rahmatgul_81@yahoo.com.
Rahmat Ali
RA
Khan
Department of Pharmacology, King Abdulaziz University(KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Huda Mohammad
HM
Alkreathy
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Abdus
A
Saboorshah
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Mushtaq
M
Ahmed
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Samiullah
S
Khan
CCl4; Trifolium alexandrinum; lipid peroxidation; lungs