Investigation of Acute Liver Toxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Artemisia Austriaca J. Jacq

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities of Artemisia austriaca J. Jacq. essential oil (AA). Artemisia groups were injected AA in doses of 0.05 mL/kg (AA-I), 0.1 mL/kg (AA-II) and 0.2 mL/kg (AA-III) in both inflammatory and hepatotoxicity experiments. The hepatotoxicity was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration. Artemisia did not have an anti-inflammatory effect matching to that of control group at any doses. It was found that reduction in inflammation was 96.62% with indomethacin, 5.71% with AA-I, 10.54% with AA-II and 31.37% with AA-III. AA-I significantly reduced the serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels when compared to the CCl4 group. The histopathological findings showed a significant difference between the AA-I and CCl4 groups. The results showed that Artemisia austriaca J. Jacq. had considerable hepatoprotective activity while it did not show an anti-inflammatory activity.