Effects of Fructus Foeniculi extract on recovering liver function

Objectives : Effects of Fructus Foeniculi extract on liver function were investigated in carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) intoxicated rats. Methods : Thirty two male Sprague-Dawley rats with mean weight of were used in these experiments and housed with food and water ad libitum. Fructus Foeniculi extract was administerd at dose 100mg/kg/day and 200mg/kg/day p.o. for 2 weeks after that CCl4 was treated 3 times at dose of 2.5ml/kg, p.o. in alternate day basis. Then serum AFP(-Fetoprotein), Total protein, Albumin, Triglyceride, Total cholesterol concentrations and ALP (Alkaline phosphatase), AST(Aspartate Aminotransferase), ALT(Alanine Aminotransferase), -GT( -Glutamyl transferase), LDH(Lactate Dehydrogenase) activities were determined with commercial kit by autoanalyzer. Results : Plasma -fetoprotein and total protein concentration showed a tendency to decrease in Fructus Foeniculi extract-treated groups. However, plasma albumin concentration showed no significant differences in all treatment groups. Activity of plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in Fructus Foeniculi extract-treated groups showed a lower value than that of control group. Alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities showed a tendency to decrease in Fructus Foeniculi treated groups. However, -glutamyl transferase activity showed no significant difference in all treated groups. Concentration of plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol showed a high level in CCl4 intoxicated rats but not in Fructus Foeniculi treated groups. Conclusion : Reviewing these experimental results, it appears that Fructus Foeniculi extract have recovering effect against liver injury.