Effect of guava leaves ( psidium guajava l.) as a source of antioxidants on hepatotoxic rats

The present work was designed to identify the total flavonoids content and the individual fractions. Also, to investigate the effect of different levels of Psidium Guajava L., leaves (P.G.L., L.) on daily food intake, body weight gain and liver weight to body weight ratio in hepatotoxic rats. Serum lipid profile and liver function were also studied. Thirty male albino rats (Sprago Dawley Strain) were divided into two main groups. The first main group (n=6) was fed on basal diet (B.D.) and used as a control negative group. The second main group (24 rats) was subcutaneous injected with CCL4 in Paraffin oil (50% v/v 2 ml/kg bwt) twice a week for two weeks, to induce chronic damage in the liver. Then divided into four subgroups as the following: Group 1 received B.D. only as a positive control group. Groups 2, 3and 4 received B.D. containing different levels (3, 6 and 9%) P.G.L., leaves, respectively. Hepatotoxic rats which fed on B.D. supplemented with (9%) P.G.L.L. resulted the best improvement of nutritional value in addition to the percent of liver weight/body weight. The mean value of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), very low- density lipoprotein (VLDL-c), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) decreased in groups treated with (3%, 6% and 9%) P.G.L., L. as compared to the positive control group, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) increased. The conclusion reached was that inclusion of P.G.L., L in some stable food as bakery may help to improve liver function in hepatotoxic disease. The antioxidant power content of Psidium Guajava L., Leaves is the bases for contribution of these actions.