Antihyperlipidemic Effect of Wheatgrass on Alcohol and ∆pufa Induced Liver Toxicity in Male Albino Wistar Rats

Objective: Alcohol is one of the widely used and abused drugs in the society. Chronic alcohol consumption causes various hepatic lesions that are grouped under common term, alcoholic liver diseases. Dietary intake of fats, especially repeatedly heated polyunsaturated fatty acid (∆PUFA) produces various lipid peroxidative end products which can aggravate the pathological changes produced by ethanol. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of wheatgrass on alcohol and ΔPUFA induced hyperlipidemia in male albino wistar rats. Methods: In our study, we analysed the liver marker enzymes AST and ALT in plasma and lipid profiles: free fatty acids, triglycerides, cholesterol and phospholipids in liver. Results: Our results showed that there was an increase in the activities of AST and ALT in plasma of alcohol and ΔPUFA rats. Treatment with the wheatgrass effectively prevented the release of these marker enzymes. The levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids were increased whereas the levels of phospholipids were decreased in alcohol and ΔPUFA groups compared to normal. This was reversed significantly on treatment with wheatgrass. Histopathological observations were also in correlation with the biochemical parameters. Conclusion: Results obtained in the study proves that wheatgrass can effectively protect the liver and has hypolipidemic effect in alcohol and PUFA induced liver toxicity.