HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ROSEMARY EXTRACT AGAINST ASPARTAME-INDUCED LIVER TOXICITY IN MALE RATS
Manar Salah, Samiha M. Abd Eldayem, Mahmoud M. Arafa and Nawal Zakaria Haggag*
ABSTRACT
There is a growing interest in using natural antioxidants to treat various pathological tissue conditions considering the role of oxidative stress in their pathogenesis. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L., Lamiaceae) is a woody perennial herb and has been considered as one of the most effective in anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory activity. Aspartame (ASP) is a dietary low-calorie artificial sweetener and is widespread used in more than 6,000 products. Its metabolites amino acids, phenyl amine, aspartic acid and methanol in the gastrointestinal tract can be toxic, and it is considered as an oxidative stress producer and a multi-potential carcinogenic agent. This study aimed to evaluate the possible protective role of aqueous extract of rosemary (125 mg/ kg b.wt/day) against aspartame (250 mg/ kg b.wt/day)-induced injury in liver of adult male albino rats. In this work rosemary was co-administered, pre-administered and post-administered with aspartame. Results showed that after two months rosemary restored levels of nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, catalase, super oxide dismutase, glutathione, tumor necrotic factor alpha and alpha fetoprotein in liver tissue. Moreover, rosemary improved serum levels of alanine amino-transferase, aspartate amino transferase, total protein and albumin, urea, creatinine and uric acid. Additionally, rosemary improved serum disturbances of electrolytes induced by aspartame for, sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus. This study concluded that, rosemary extract alleviates the harmful effects of aspartame in rat's liver and has a grateful role in restoration of sodium potassium and calcium phosphorus hemostasis.
Keywords: Rosemary, Antioxidants, Oxidative Stress, Liver, Aspartame, Rats.
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