Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride and the protective effects of Teucrium polium and vitamin C

This work investigated the protective effects of Teucrium polium (T. polium) and vitamin C (Vit C) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats. T. polium reduced the Fer reduced antioxidant power (FRAP) (IC₅₀?=?0.89?mg/ml) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (IC₅₀?=?0.049 µg/ml) than Vit C, FRAP (IC₅₀?=?0.71?mg/ml) and DPPH (IC₅₀?=?0.029 µg/ml). Male albino Wistar rats were divided into six groups: Group I was used as controls, Group II received CCl₄ in olive oil (0.5?ml/kg) by gavage, Group III received CCl₄ in olive oil (0.5?ml/kg) by gavage after 3 d of receiving T. polium (5?g/l), orally, Group IV received T. polium (5?g/l) alone, by gavage, for 7 d, Group V received CCl₄ in olive oil (0.5?ml/kg) by gavage after 3 d of receiving Vit C (250?mg/kg) by gavage and Group VI received Vit C (250?mg/kg) alone by gavage. CCl₄ showed an increase of serum hepatic and renal markers aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, and creatinine. Moreover, we noted an increase of lipid peroxidations and a decrease in antioxidants enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) of CCl₄ rats compared to controls. The pretreatment with (200?mg/kg) of T. polium and with Vit C (250?mg/kg) by gavage, for 7 d, displayed their ability to protect against oxidative damage and biochemical changes induced by CCl₄. Our results were in accordance with histopathological observations.