The effects of Cynara scolymus L. on carbon tetracholoride induced liver toxicity in Japanese quail.

An investigation was done to evaluate the effect of Cynara scolymus L. (artichoke) on protection against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity in Japanese quail. Quail chicks were arranged in to four groups for tests on liver injury. There were 25 quail chicks in each group and tests were done according to the following; group 1 control (basal diet only), group 2 - artichoke, (control diet supplemented with 2 percent artichoke powder), group 3 CCl4 (control diet plus 1 ml/Kg/BW of CCl4), and group 4 - artichoke + CCl4 (control diet supplemented with artichoke powder plus CCl4 as for the other treatments). From the 29 th day until the end of the period, CCl4 was applied intraperitoneally at 3-day intervals. Blood samples were taken from the wings of the quails at the end of the test period to measure blood serum concentrations of liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Liver samples were also taken from the quails after they had been killed at the end of trial, and liver samples were stained with hematoxylin - eosin and used for histologic examination. Results showed that artichoke powder significantly decreased concentration of ALT in blood serum, while CCl4 significantly increased concentration of AST (P<0.05) in serum. Moreover, the interaction effects of artichoke and CCl4 showed that artichoke significantly decreased serum concentration of ALP (P<0.05). Results of liver histopathology showed that CCl4 damaged liver cells by causing formation of bubble-like structures in the liver tissue, shrinking of the sinusoid space and inflammation in parts of the liver parenchyma as well as abnormality of the hepatic artery and bile duct in liver tissue. Comparison of results for the group that received a combination of artichoke and CCl4 to those that received CCl4, clearly indicated better condition of the parenchyma of the liver, centrilobular vein, sinusoids and hepatic artery and the bile duct. Therefore, results of this this study demonstrated that application of Cynara scolymus L. powder had a significant protective effect from serious hepatocellular injury in birds from hepatotoxicity.