Abstract

Modulating Efficiency of γ-Irradiated Rosemary in Improving the Hepatic Antioxidant Status of Ethanol Administrated Rats

Refaat Galal Hamzaa, A. N. El Shahat and H.M.S. Mekawey

Alcoholic liver disease represents a spectrum of clinical illness and morphological changes such as hepatic inflammation and necrosis (alcoholic hepatitis). Among natural antioxidants, rosemary contains several antioxidant oil and phenolic components that exhibit hepatoprotective effect. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant effect of dietary supplementation with γ-irradiated rosemary in ethanol induced liver injury in rats. Rosemary essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results of biological study revealed that dietary supplementation of either raw or γ-irradiated rosemary following ethanol administration exerts remarkable modulating effect by reducing the level of total bilirubin, the activity of transaminases, gamma glutamyl transferase and serum alkaline phosphatase, decreasing the concentration of some lipid contents, malondialdehyde and xanthine oxidase activity. Also, supplementation of dietary rosemary resulted in elevation of high density lipoprotein level, reduced glutathione content and enhances the activity of xanthine oxidase dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Thus, gamma-irradiated rosemary could be incorporated to the diet as a nutritional supplement, to augment the liver's defences against oxidative stress.