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Hepatoprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil
Fitoterapia 74 (2003) 317–319
Short report
Hepatoprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil a, c ˙ ¨ ˙ Tuncerd, ˘ ¸ b, H. Dulger ¨ H. Ozbek *, S. Ugras , I. Bayramb, I. e a ¨ ¨ , A. Ozturk ¨ ¨ G. Ozturk a
¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Van 65300, Turkey Yuzuncu b ¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Van 65300, Turkey Yuzuncu c ¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Van 65300, Turkey Yuzuncu d ¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Van 65300, Turkey Yuzuncu e ¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Van 65300, Turkey Yuzuncu Received 28 June 2002; accepted 23 January 2003
Abstract Hepatoprotective activity of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) essential oil (FEO) was studied using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) induced liver injury model in rats. The hepatotoxicity produced by acute CCl4 administration was found to be inhibited by FEO with evidence of decreased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin. The results of this study indicate that FEO has a potent hepatoprotective action against CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats. 䊚 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Foeniculum vulgare; Fennel essential oil; Hepatoprotective effect
Plant. Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (Umbelliferae) is an annual, biennial or perennial aromatic herb, depending on the variety, which has been known since antiquity in Europe and Asia Minor. The fennel seeds used were purchased from a local market from Van in Turkey. It was identified by Dr M. Koyuncu, Department of Medicinal Biology, Faculty of *Corresponding author. Fax: q90-432-216-83-52. ¨ E-mail address: [email protected] (H. Ozbek). 0367-326X/03/$ - see front matter 䊚 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0367-326X(03)00028-5
318
¨ H. Ozbek et al. / Fitoterapia 74 (2003) 317–319
¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University. A voucher specimen (B-02) has been kept in Medicine, Yuzuncu our laboratory for future reference.
Uses in traditional medicine. The dried, aromatic fruits are widely employed in culinary preparations for flavouring bread and pastry, in candies and in alcoholic liqueurs of French type, as well as in cosmetic and medicinal preparations w1,2x. Fennel and its herbal drug preparations are used for dyspeptic complaints such as mild, spasmodic gastric-intestinal complaints, bloating and flatulence. It is also used for the catarrh of the upper respiratory tract w3–8x. The seeds of this plant have been known as a promoter of menstruation, to alleviate the symptoms of female climacteric and increase libido w9x. It has been reported that fennel essential oil is used in the pediatric colic and some respiratory disorders due to its anti-spasmodic effects w10x.
Previously isolated classes of constituents. trans-Anethole, fenchone, methylchavicol, limonene, a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, b-myrcene, a-phellandrene, 3-carene, camphor, cis-anethole w11–14x.
Tested material. The seeds were powdered in a mixer, placed in a distillation flask and the oil was collected by steam distillation, to obtain the essential oil with 1% yield.
Studied activity. The CCl4 model described by Handa and Sharma w15x. The serum AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin concentrations were determined with a commercial kit (Roche) by Roche Modular Autoanalyzer. Animals. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (180–200 g) were used in these experiments. The animals were housed in standard cages with food and water ad libitum, and kept under controlled environment following the standard operating procedures of ¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl). the animal house facility of the Faculty of Medicine (University of Yuzuncu The approval of Animal Ethics Committee was obtained.
Results. Reported in Table 1.
Conclusion. In this study, we have shown that FEO extract has a protective effect against the toxicity induced by CCl4 in rats. What component(s) of the extract is responsible for this effect, however, was not investigated. Potential candidates might
¨ H. Ozbek et al. / Fitoterapia 74 (2003) 317–319
319
Table 1 Effect of F. vulgare (FEO) on serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin of rats treated with CCl4 Treatment (i.p.)
AST Serum (Uyl)
ALT Serum (Uyl)
ALP Serum (Uyl)
Bilirubin (mgydl)
Control (SF) CCl4:olive oil, (0.8 mlykg) CCl4qFEO (0.4 mlykg)
129.7"12.1 2707.6"90.6a 922.5"125.1a,c
50.0"3.4 2185.0"192.1a 666.5"94.6b,c
751.7"52.8 1168.0"78.6a 708.2"55.5c
0.08"0.01 0.66"0.17b 0.13"0.01d
The values represent the mean"S.E.M. (ns10). a P-0.001 with respect to control (Tukey’s test). b P-0.01 with respect to control (Tukey’s test). c P-0.001 with respect to CCl4 group (Tukey’s test). d P-0.01 with respect to CCl4 group (Tukey’s test).
be FEO components d-limonene and b-myrcene which have been shown to have effects on liver. Further investigations are needed for exact identification of the active compound(s). Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr M. Koyuncu for identification of the plant material. References w1x Farrell KT. Spices, condiments and seasonings. Westport CT: AVI Publishing, 1985. w2x Hansel ¨ R, Keller K, Rimpler H. Foeniculum 5. Hagers handbuch der pharmazeutischen, praxis 5. New York: Springer, 1993. w3x Czygane FC. Fenchel. In: Wichtl M, editor. Teedrogen. Stuttgart: Wissenscaftliche Verlagsgesellscaht, 1989. w4x Madaus G. Foeniculum. In: Olms G, editor. New York: Hilesheim, 1976. ¨ (XVI). Foeniculum vulgare Miller–Fenchel. PTAw5x Merkes K. Drogen mit atherischem ¨ Ol Repetitorium 12, 1980. w6x Forster HB, Niklas H, Lutz S. Planta Med 1980;40(4):309. w7x Forster HB. Z Al Med 1983;59:1327. w8x Weib RF. Lehrbuch der phytoterapie. Stuttgart: Hippokrates, 1991. w9x Albert-Puleo M. J Ethnopharmacol 1980;2:337. w10x Reynolds JEF. Essential oils and aromatic carminatives. London: Martindale-The Extra Pharmacopeia, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1982. w11x Lawrence BM. Perfum Flavor 1994;19:31. w12x Bernath J, Nemeth E, Kattaa A, Hethelyi E. Oil Res 1996;8:247. ` et al. J Agric Food w13x Simandi ´ ´ A, Ronyani ´ B, Deak E, Yanxiang G, Veress T, Lemberkovics E, Chem 1999;47:1635. ¨ ¨ w14x Ozcan ¨ A, Baser KHC, Ozok M, Akgul T, Tabanca N. NahrungyFood 2001;45(5):353. w15x Handa SS, Sharma A. Indian J Med Res wBx 1990;92:276.
Short report
Hepatoprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil a, c ˙ ¨ ˙ Tuncerd, ˘ ¸ b, H. Dulger ¨ H. Ozbek *, S. Ugras , I. Bayramb, I. e a ¨ ¨ , A. Ozturk ¨ ¨ G. Ozturk a
¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Van 65300, Turkey Yuzuncu b ¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Van 65300, Turkey Yuzuncu c ¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Van 65300, Turkey Yuzuncu d ¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Van 65300, Turkey Yuzuncu e ¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Van 65300, Turkey Yuzuncu Received 28 June 2002; accepted 23 January 2003
Abstract Hepatoprotective activity of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) essential oil (FEO) was studied using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) induced liver injury model in rats. The hepatotoxicity produced by acute CCl4 administration was found to be inhibited by FEO with evidence of decreased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin. The results of this study indicate that FEO has a potent hepatoprotective action against CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats. 䊚 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Foeniculum vulgare; Fennel essential oil; Hepatoprotective effect
Plant. Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (Umbelliferae) is an annual, biennial or perennial aromatic herb, depending on the variety, which has been known since antiquity in Europe and Asia Minor. The fennel seeds used were purchased from a local market from Van in Turkey. It was identified by Dr M. Koyuncu, Department of Medicinal Biology, Faculty of *Corresponding author. Fax: q90-432-216-83-52. ¨ E-mail address: [email protected] (H. Ozbek). 0367-326X/03/$ - see front matter 䊚 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0367-326X(03)00028-5
318
¨ H. Ozbek et al. / Fitoterapia 74 (2003) 317–319
¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl University. A voucher specimen (B-02) has been kept in Medicine, Yuzuncu our laboratory for future reference.
Uses in traditional medicine. The dried, aromatic fruits are widely employed in culinary preparations for flavouring bread and pastry, in candies and in alcoholic liqueurs of French type, as well as in cosmetic and medicinal preparations w1,2x. Fennel and its herbal drug preparations are used for dyspeptic complaints such as mild, spasmodic gastric-intestinal complaints, bloating and flatulence. It is also used for the catarrh of the upper respiratory tract w3–8x. The seeds of this plant have been known as a promoter of menstruation, to alleviate the symptoms of female climacteric and increase libido w9x. It has been reported that fennel essential oil is used in the pediatric colic and some respiratory disorders due to its anti-spasmodic effects w10x.
Previously isolated classes of constituents. trans-Anethole, fenchone, methylchavicol, limonene, a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, b-myrcene, a-phellandrene, 3-carene, camphor, cis-anethole w11–14x.
Tested material. The seeds were powdered in a mixer, placed in a distillation flask and the oil was collected by steam distillation, to obtain the essential oil with 1% yield.
Studied activity. The CCl4 model described by Handa and Sharma w15x. The serum AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin concentrations were determined with a commercial kit (Roche) by Roche Modular Autoanalyzer. Animals. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (180–200 g) were used in these experiments. The animals were housed in standard cages with food and water ad libitum, and kept under controlled environment following the standard operating procedures of ¨ ¨ ¨ Yıl). the animal house facility of the Faculty of Medicine (University of Yuzuncu The approval of Animal Ethics Committee was obtained.
Results. Reported in Table 1.
Conclusion. In this study, we have shown that FEO extract has a protective effect against the toxicity induced by CCl4 in rats. What component(s) of the extract is responsible for this effect, however, was not investigated. Potential candidates might
¨ H. Ozbek et al. / Fitoterapia 74 (2003) 317–319
319
Table 1 Effect of F. vulgare (FEO) on serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin of rats treated with CCl4 Treatment (i.p.)
AST Serum (Uyl)
ALT Serum (Uyl)
ALP Serum (Uyl)
Bilirubin (mgydl)
Control (SF) CCl4:olive oil, (0.8 mlykg) CCl4qFEO (0.4 mlykg)
129.7"12.1 2707.6"90.6a 922.5"125.1a,c
50.0"3.4 2185.0"192.1a 666.5"94.6b,c
751.7"52.8 1168.0"78.6a 708.2"55.5c
0.08"0.01 0.66"0.17b 0.13"0.01d
The values represent the mean"S.E.M. (ns10). a P-0.001 with respect to control (Tukey’s test). b P-0.01 with respect to control (Tukey’s test). c P-0.001 with respect to CCl4 group (Tukey’s test). d P-0.01 with respect to CCl4 group (Tukey’s test).
be FEO components d-limonene and b-myrcene which have been shown to have effects on liver. Further investigations are needed for exact identification of the active compound(s). Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr M. Koyuncu for identification of the plant material. References w1x Farrell KT. Spices, condiments and seasonings. Westport CT: AVI Publishing, 1985. w2x Hansel ¨ R, Keller K, Rimpler H. Foeniculum 5. Hagers handbuch der pharmazeutischen, praxis 5. New York: Springer, 1993. w3x Czygane FC. Fenchel. In: Wichtl M, editor. Teedrogen. Stuttgart: Wissenscaftliche Verlagsgesellscaht, 1989. w4x Madaus G. Foeniculum. In: Olms G, editor. New York: Hilesheim, 1976. ¨ (XVI). Foeniculum vulgare Miller–Fenchel. PTAw5x Merkes K. Drogen mit atherischem ¨ Ol Repetitorium 12, 1980. w6x Forster HB, Niklas H, Lutz S. Planta Med 1980;40(4):309. w7x Forster HB. Z Al Med 1983;59:1327. w8x Weib RF. Lehrbuch der phytoterapie. Stuttgart: Hippokrates, 1991. w9x Albert-Puleo M. J Ethnopharmacol 1980;2:337. w10x Reynolds JEF. Essential oils and aromatic carminatives. London: Martindale-The Extra Pharmacopeia, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1982. w11x Lawrence BM. Perfum Flavor 1994;19:31. w12x Bernath J, Nemeth E, Kattaa A, Hethelyi E. Oil Res 1996;8:247. ` et al. J Agric Food w13x Simandi ´ ´ A, Ronyani ´ B, Deak E, Yanxiang G, Veress T, Lemberkovics E, Chem 1999;47:1635. ¨ ¨ w14x Ozcan ¨ A, Baser KHC, Ozok M, Akgul T, Tabanca N. NahrungyFood 2001;45(5):353. w15x Handa SS, Sharma A. Indian J Med Res wBx 1990;92:276.