Studying Protective Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) Leaves and Vitamin E against Oxidative Stress Induced in Rats

The present study was conduct to evaluate the protective effect of Artichoke leaves extract (ALE) and vitamin E administration against oxidative stress induced by antitumor drug cyclophosphamide (CP) in rats. Forty five male rats were randomized into 5 equal groups. Group (1) was normal rats (negative control), while the other four groups were intraperitoneally injected by a single daily dose of CP (50 mg/kg BW) for 3 days to induce oxidative stress. Group (2) was used as positive control (intoxicated) and groups (3), (4) and (5) received orally daily doses of ALE (400 mg/kg/BW); vitamin E (100 mg/kg/BW) and both ALE and vitamin E for six weeks, respectively. Blood samples were collected for separation of the serum which used for biochemical analyses. Halve of livers of the sacrificed rats was used for preparing liver homogenates for biochemical analyses. The other halve was used for histopathological examination. The results showed that oral administration of ALE increased body weight gain in CP- administered rats. ALE decreased the high serum levels of liver enzymes; normalized serum levels of total protein, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH).  In hepatic tissues, there were a significant decrease in MDA and increases in GSH levels and activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx and CAT). These biochemical alterations were accompanied with mitigation of histopathological lesions (fatty degeneration and necrosis) seen in the liver of CP-intoxicated rats. Concurrent administration of ALE and vitamin E exhibited the best effects when compared to their administration alone. In conclusion, concomitant administration of ALE and vitamin E has hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities in CP-intoxicated rats. The study recommends that intake of edible parts of artichoke leaves in food or as an herbal tea with vitamin E as a food supplement may be beneficial for patients suffering from liver and kidney diseases due to oxidative stress. Isolation of bioactive constituents of artichoke leaves is necessary also to search for safe natural antioxidant agents to be developed for therapy of liver and kidney diseases