Does Commiphora extract have an effect on carbontetrachloride-induced liver injury in adult albino rats?Histological and biochemical study

IntroductionCarbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a well-known hepatocyte-destructive agent.Commiphora mukul is a medicinal plant found to be effective in the treatment ofa variety of disorders.Aim of the workTo study the effect of Commiphora extract on liver injury induced by theadministration of CCl4 in rats.Materials and methodsForty adult male albino rats were divided randomly into three groups. Group I(control group), group II (positive controls, which received CCl4 for 2 weeks),and group IIIa and group IIIb, which received 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively,of Commiphora extract orally before the administration of CCl4. Two weeks afterthe administration of CCl4, animals were killed, and the livers were removed andprocessed for histological and electron microscopic examination. Liver functionswere measured.ResultsA low dose of Commiphora extract did not lead to any improvement; loss of hepaticarchitecture occurred. An apparent decrease in fibrous tissue and cellular infiltrationwas observed around the preexisting portal tract. Some hepatocytes showed fattychanges. At a high dose of Commiphora, hepatic lobules regained their normalarchitecture with proliferating bile ductules in the portal tract. Some hepatic lobulesstill showed vacuolation and necrosis of their hepatocytes.ConclusionHigher doses of Commiphora extract before CCl4 might be more effective in theamelioration of CCl4-induced liver injury and fibrosis.