FLAVONOIDS FROM SUGAR BEET LEAVES AS HEPATOPROTECTIVE AGENT

Objective : This work was designed to investigate the activity of Beta vulgaris ( B. vulgaris ) extract against hepatotoxicity induced by (carbon tetrachloride) CC1 4 in male rats. Methods: Hepatoprotective study was performed on rats, divided into different groups; control healthy rats, the group received B. vulgaris extract, intoxicated rats by CC1 4 , CCl 4 group treated with alcoholic leaves extract, and CCl 4 intoxicated rats treated with silymarin. The evaluation was done through measuring liver function indices and oxidative stress markers. Results: The activities of Alanine Transferase (ALT), Aspartate Transferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) increased by 187.07, 52.37, 50.58, and 94.59% respectively in CCl 4 group from control. Supplementation of beet extract decreased this elevation to 10.83, 26.43, 17.07 and 37.21% for the previous parameters respectively. The values obtained of the enzymes activity return nearly to that of control values, also a histopathological investigation of liver confirmed the results obtained. Conclusion: Beet showed a remarkable anti-hepatotoxic activity against CC1 4 induced hepatic damage Keywords: B. vulgaris , Hepatoprotective, Flavonoids, Liver function, Antioxidant enzyme, Histopathology