The Protective Effect of Liquorice Plant Extract on CCl۴-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The protective effect of liquorice plant extract (LPE) on CCl۴-induced hepatotoxicity in common carp was evaluated using fifty adult carps. The fish were cultured in a standard environment in terms of water flow rate, oxygen, pH, food and temperature. The fish were assigned into ۵ groups (N = ۱۰) as control, sham, and tests. The test groups were pre-treated for ۳ h with various concentrations of LPE, ۳ days before CCl۴ exposure. The control and sham groups received normal saline before and after CCl۴ exposure. To induce hepatotoxicity, animals in the sham and test groups were exposed against ۱۰۰ μl L-۱ CCl۴ for ۴۵ min. The fish in all groups ۱ h after CCl۴ exposure were anesthetized and the blood samples were collected. Immediately the liver specimens were dissected out and were stored in ۱۰ % formalin for further pathological studies. Determination of serum level of ALP and SGOT revealed that acute form of CCl۴ exposure elevated significantly (P < ۰.۰۵) the serum level of either tested hepatic marker enzymes. While ۳ days pretreatment with LPE prevented from ALP and SGOT enhancement. The pathological evaluation revealed that the CCl۴ exposure resulted in a minor pathologic manifestation such as slight congestion, which the LPE pretreated groups showed the remarkable improvement. The anti-oxidant capacity of LPE was assayed by FRAP and DPPH methods. Both provided techniques showed that LPE exerts an excellent anti-oxidant effect. This data suggest that LPE exerts protective effect against CCl۴-induced hepatotoxicity. Moreover, the hepatoprotective effect of LPE may attribute to its antioxidant capacity.