Abstract

Medicinal plants may provide an effective remedy for the enormous health burden posed by alcohol abuse. The aim of this study was to investigate putative protective and therapeutic effects of an aqueous extract of Chamomilla recutita (CHR) on alcohol-induced hepato-nephrotoxicity and pancytopenia in rats. Rats fed only alcohol developed hepato-nephrotoxicity as indicated by significant increases in the levels of all hepatic enzyme markers [alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GTT)], significantly decreased levels of total protein and increased levels of serum creatinine and urea. Ethanol administered rats also developed pancytopeniawithdecreased levels of total red blood cells (RBC's), white blood cells (WBC's) and platelets and macrocytic, hypochromic anemia. Oral administration of CHR extract for 28 days to normal rats confirmed its safe use with all the above biochemical and hematological parameters remaining within their normal levels. Pre-treatment or post-treatment with CHR to ethanol administered rats ameliorated the deleterious effects of ethanol on all biochemical and hematological parameters. CHR effect was more potent in pretreated- than in post-treated group. The results also show that a diminution of oxidative stress is one mechanism by which CHR extract exerts potent protective and mild therapeutic effects against alcohol-induced hepato-nephrotoxicity and pancytopenia.

Key words: Chamomilla, alcohol, liver, kidney, hematology, protection, therapy.