Hepatoprotective Effect of Silymarin and Propolis in Chemically Induced Chronic Liver Injury in Rats

According to World Health Organization (WHO), chronic liver disease is a major problem that causes significant morbidity and mortality in both western and developing countries. However, till now no ideal hepatoprotective agents are available in the modern system. This has increased the need to depend on complementary and alternative systems of medicine. Silymarin and propolis among phytochemicals that show anti-inflammatory, healing, antioxidant and several other promising properties. Our aim is to investigate protective effect of silymarin and propolis in chemically induced chronic liver injury in rats. A total of 60 male albino rats (90±10 days old) were divided equally into ten groups: (6 rats per each group). The experiment lasted along four months, through which all groups except for group 1 and 6 were given silymarin and propolis. Liver injury was induced in groups 6, 7, 8,9,10 while other groups were injected with saline and oil of the same volume as following. Group 1: served as control –ve, the rats were fed on basal ration and water ad libitum. Group 2 (silymarin 100 mg/ kg b.wt). Group 3 (propolis 100 mg/kg b.wt). Group 4 (propolis 150 mg/kg b.wt). Group 5 (propolis 200 mg/kg b.wt). Group 6 served as control +ve (DEN+CCl4). Group 7 (liver injury+ silymarin 100 mg/ kg b.wt). Group 8 (liver injury+ propolis 100 mg /kg b.wt). Group 9 (liver injury + propolis 150 mg/kg b.wt). Group 10 (liver injury + propolis 200 mg/kg b.wt). Blood samples were collected from all groups after four months and serum was separated for biochemical analysis of liver functions and tumar markers Administration of DEN+CCl4 significantly increased liver weight, liver/body weight index, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, AFP and CEA while, body weight, total protein, albumin and A/G ratio were markedly decreased. Treatment with silymarin and propolis caused a significant reduction in serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, GGT and tumor markers moreover, loss of body weight and liver/body weight index were successfully decreased while, total protein and albumin were increased by those natural products. The results indicate a protective effect for silymarin and propolis against hepatic injury induced by DEN+CCl4 that may be due to their ability to block the bioactivity of those hepatotoxicants and their antioxidant properties.