Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is one of the most essential vegetable crops that it’s grown on more than 1.7 million hectares globally. It has been believed that may reduce toxicity and serum cholesterol. It is extensively consumed in Iraq. The present study was to evaluate the effects of two extract of eggplant (S. melongena) on potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) inducing liver toxicity. In order to do that, animals were divided into four groups, with six rats in each group: group negative control ; rats received distilled water, group two positive control; rats received potassium Dichromate (K2Cr2O7) (2.5 mg/kg-day) orally, group three received crude methanolic extract of eggplant at dose 400 mg / kg + K2Cr2O7 (2.5 mg/kg-day) orally,group four : received crude watery extract of eggplant at dose (400 mg/kg) + K2Cr2O7 (2.5 mg/kg-day) orally. Blood was drawn during the sacrifice and was placed into heparin and EDTA tubes for biochemical analyses. As liver tissue was collected, and then fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution for histological studies. The results showed that crudeWEE better than crude MEE in reducing potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) mediated liver toxicity. Also, that treatment with crude WEE reduced bad lipid serum levels significantly. The histopathological results showed the negative group showed atypical texture without any significant obvious lesions. While positive group in the potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), the liver showed severe hydropic degeneration and necrosis of hepatic cells. In case of crude methanolic extract of Eggplant (MEE), the histopathological results showed fatty change that appears as vacuoles in liver parenchyma. Liver cells appear empty with destructed nucleus. While crude watery extract of Eggplant (WEE) group showed normal architecture of hepatic tissue. This study confirmed general adverse crude watery extract of Eggplant (WEE) better than crude methanolic extract of Eggplant (MEE) in reducing potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7)-mediated liver toxicity.
Keywords | Rats, Herbal medicine, Potassium dichromate, Biochemical analysis, Histopathology