Abstract
Protective effects of Digera muricata (DM) methanol extract (DME) were evaluated against the oxidative stress of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in the thyroid of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Treatment of CCl4 1 ml/kg bw (25% CCl4/olive oil i.p) once a week for 16 weeks significantly decreased the activities of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase in the thyroid. Level of reduced glutathione was decreased, while lipid peroxidation (TBARS) was significantly increased with CCl4 in the thyroid of rat. CCl4 significantly enhanced the level of thyroidal DNA injuries and AgNORs count. Serum level of TT3 and TT4 was significantly decreased, while TSH level was increased with CCl4 treatment. Pleiomorphic histopathological abnormalities in thyroid were caused by CCl4 treatment. Co-treatment of DME (100 and 200 mg/kg bw) intragastrically once a week for 16 weeks suppressed the toxic effects of CCl4 and level of thyroid hormones, the activities of oxidative enzymes, glutathione (GSH) and TBARS concentration. Histopathological injuries induced with CCl4 were remarkably reduced with co-treatment of DME in a dose dependent fashion. These results suggest that the ameliorative effects of DME could be attributed to radical scavenging or antioxidant properties.