Abstract
The protective effect of Carthamus tinctorius L. Semen on the carbon tetrachloride induced liver damaged rats were studied. First, methanol extract was prepared and the extract was fractionated with hexane, $CHCl_3$, BuOH and $H_2O$ respectively. Animals were divided into 6 groups and each group was treated with each fraction respectively. To investigate the hepato-protective effect of Carthamus tinctorius L. Semen AST, ALT, albumin, TP, cholesterol, TG, creatinine and total bilirubin values were measured in each treated group and compared with those of control group. GST activity was increased in BuOH group compared with the control group. In malondialdehyde levels, all fractions was decreased compared with the control group. In histopathologic examination, hexane and $H_2O$ fractions of Carthamus tinctorius L. Semen observed mild degree of ballooning degeneration. The results show the protective effect of Hexane,$CHCl_3$, BuOH and $H_2O$ fractions on hepatotoxicity of $CHl_4$ by decreasing ALT, AST, bilirubin, cholesterol, TG and BUN. It seems that the decrease of MDA are related to the recovery effect. The protective effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. Semen fractions in hepatotoxic pathogenesis by $CHl_4$ was suggested in blood chemistry analysis and histopathologic examination.
