Hepatoprotective Effect of Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis)
on CCl4-Induced Liver Damage in Rats
O. ULIČNÁ1, M.
GREKSÁK2, O. VANČOVÁ1, L. ZLATOŠ3,
Š. GALBAVÝ4, P. BOŽEK5, M. NAKANO6
1Laboratory of Pharmacobiochemistry, Medical
Faculty, Comenius University, Bratislava, 2Institute
of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of
Sciences, Ivanka pri Dunaji, 3Institute of
Pathophysiolog and 4Institute of Pathological
Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Comenius University, Bratislava,
Slovakia and 5Department of Biochemistry and
Hematology, State Hospital, Bratislava, Slovakia, 6Institute
for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University,
Nagakute, Japan
Received June 5, 2002
Accepted August 20, 2002
Summary
Hepatoprotective properties of rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis)
were investigated in a rat model of liver injury induced by
carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Rooibos tea, like N-acetyl-L-cysteine
which was used for the comparison, showed histological
regression of steatosis and cirrhosis in the liver tissue with a
significant inhibition of the increase of liver tissue
concentrations of malondialdehyde, triacylglycerols and
cholesterol. Simultaneously, rooibos tea significantly
suppressed mainly the increase in plasma activities of
aminotransferases (ALT, AST), alkaline phosphatase and
billirubin concentrations, which are considered as markers of
liver functional state. The antifibrotic effect in the
experimental model of hepatic cirrhosis of rats suggests the use
of rooibos tea as a plant hepatoprotector in the diet of
patients with hepatopathies.
Key
words
Rooibos tea • Aspalathus linearis • N-acetyl-L-cysteine •
Hepatoprotective activity • CCl4-induced cirrhosis.
Reprint
requests
M. Greksák, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics,
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Moyzesova Str. 61, 900 28 Ivanka pri
Dunaji. Slovak Republic. E-mail:
Miloslav.Greksak@savba.sk
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