Evaluation of the effectiveness of Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae) in the alleviation of carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in the rat

The effect of oral administration of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) on CCl4-induced acute liver injury was investigated. Rats were daily treated with the plant extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg corresponding to 6.04 mg/kg of carnosol as determined by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The treatment was initiated 1 h after CCl4 administration and Rosmarinus officinalis fully prevented CCl4 effect on hepatic lipid peroxidation after 24 h of CCl4 administration. The increase in bilirubin level and alanine aminotransferase activity in plasma induced by CCl4 was completely normalized by Rosmarinus officinalis. The treatment also produced a significant recovery of CCl4-induced decrease in liver glycogen content. CCl4 did not modify the activity of liver cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) compared with that of control groups. However, Rosmarinus officinalis increased liver cytosolic GST activity and produced an additional increment in plasma GST activity in rats treated with CCl4. Histological evaluation showed that Rosmarinus officinalis partially prevented CCl4-induced inflammation, necrosis and vacuolation. Rosmarinus officinalis might exert a dual effect on CCl4-induced acute liver injury, acting as an antioxidant and improving GST-dependent detoxification systems. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.