Abstract
The objective of the current study was to investigate the protective effects of aqueous extract of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Therefore, twenty rats were fed standard diet and divided into four groups. Rats in the first and second groups were injected i/p with paraffin oil and received either tap water (control 1) or aqueous extract of fenugreek (control 2), respectively. Rats in the third and fourth groups were injected Up with CCl4 and received either tap water or aqueous extract of fenugreek, respectively. At the end of the experiment (5 weeks), blood and liver samples were collected. Sera were used for selected biochemical analysis and liver tissues were used for estimation of selected oxidative stress biomarkers. The present findings revealed that, CCl4 elevated serum transaminases, hepatic lipid peroxidation and hepatic enzymatic antioxidants activities. Oral fenugreek aqueous extract ameliorated the detrimental effects of CCl4 and corrected all examined biomarkers toward the control values. The present study concluded that aqueous extract of fenugreek plays a protective role against CCl4-induced liver damages in rats. These protective effects were in the form of improvement of serum transaminases, attenuation of hepatic lipid peroxidation and activation of hepatic antioxidant enzymes.