Abstract

ANTIMICROBIAL AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF CYNARA SCOLYMUS LEAVES EXTRACT

Shalaby M. A.*, Ahmed Samir Shihata and Khalid Gaith Hashim

ABSTRACT

The antimicrobial effect of Cynara scolymus, Artichoke, leaves extract (ALE) was investigated using Microtiter plates and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. The hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was studied. Thirty five rats were distributed into 5 groups of 7 rats each. Group 1 normal control; group 2 positive (intoxicated non-treated) control; group 3 pretreated with reference drug Silymarin (50 mg/kg, oral) daily for 6 weeks and group 4 and 5 were pretreated with ALE at doses 400 and 800 mg/kg daily for 6 weeks, respectively. At the end of experiment, rats were sacrificed; blood was taken for biochemical analysis and livers were collected for estimation of antioxidant activity and for histopathology. Results showed that ALE had a potent antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms. Oral pretreatments with ALE normalized serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP enzymes, total cholesterol, triglycerides and increased levels of total proteins. There were increases in activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes with amelioration of liver fibrosis induced by CCL4. It can be concluded that ALE has antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, hypochlosterolemic and antioxidant effects. Therefore intake of Artichoke leaves as an herbal tea may be beneficial for patients suffering from liver diseases, hypercholesterolemia and bacterial infections.

Keywords: *Cynara scolymus (Artichoke) *Antimicrobial *Hepatoprotective.