Abstract
Background and Objective: Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) is widely used in many medical applications but with many side effects and hepatotoxicity. Black berry extract (BB) and quercetin (Qe) have major protective effects against a lot of tissues injury as they have antioxidant effects. This study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of both BB and Qe against hepatotoxicity due to aluminum chloride toxicity. Materials and Methods: Seventy male rats were used in the study and split into 7 groups as follows: Control, AlCl3, BB, Qe and the combination of either BB or Qe antioxidants with AlCl3 and a combination of both antioxidants with AlCl3. Results: Hepatic enzymes activities aminotransferases (AST, ALT) and marker of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) with some biomarkers of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation marker in liver hemogenates were examined. Histological examination was performed on the liver tissues as indicators of hepatic damage following AlCl3 administration with/without BB and/or Qe. This study showed that BB and Qe decreased the AST and ALT levels and the oxidative stress level to a normal level after the administration of AlCl3. The results clarified that treatment with AlCl3 with a combination of BB with Qe has potent synergistic effect and enhanced significantly the antioxidant enzymes and declined the level of lipid peroxidation as compared with the AlCl3-treated group. Conclusion: It is obvious from the results that both BB and Qe administration inhibited the liver damage and improved the antioxidant status of male rats induced by AlCl3-toxicity.