Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract of Angelica glauca Edgew. root

Due to its hepatoprotective effects the aqueous extract of Angelica glauca root was investigated as possible treatment for carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The aqueous extract at 100 and 300 mg/kg induced significant effects. It increased the level of total serum protein, reduced the activities of aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase as compared to the diseased control. In addition, supporting its hepatoprotective activity, treatment with the extract reduced the histopathological changes produced by CCl4. It did not have any significant effects on the weights of heart, liver kidney, lungs or the entire body. The extract also increased the chelation of Fe 2+ and free radical scavenging (scavenging DPPH used as an indicator) as well as the reducing power to reduce free radicals. Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorgenic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid and p-coumaric acid were found to be the principle phenolic acids in A. glauca, which could be responsible for its hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity.