The ameliorative potential of Sophora alopecuroides essential oil on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in mice; a stereological study

Background and objectives: Sophora alopecuroides, one of the most important herbal medicines is widely grown in west of Iran, and has a long history for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, leucorrhea, eczema, and psoriasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effect of Sophora alopecuroides essential oil on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Methods: Thirty five male mice were divided into five groups; group I as the negative control, received olive oil intraperitoneally and distilled water orally. Group II as the positive control, received CCl4 mixed with olive oil in the ratio of 5:5, intraperitoneally and distilled water orally. Group III, IV and V received CCl4 and 200, 800 and 1600 µg/kg of S. alopecuroides essential oil through gavages for 45 consecutive days. Results: The results showed that low and intermediate doses of S. alopecuroides essential oil significantly decreased the raised levels of Alanine aminotrasferase and Aspartate aminotransaminase toward control levels (p<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase was improved with tree examined doses of S. alopecuroides essential oil. The volume and weight of the liver, as well as the volume of hepatocytes and sinusoids which had increased significantly in the positive control group (p<0.05), decreased significantly following treatment by low dose of S. alopecuroides essential oil (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that although Sophora alopecuroidesessential could protect liver against CCl4-induced toxicity at lower doses, further studies would be needed to define the selective dose of this plant against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity.