Background: The
Astragalus gummifer
(F. Fabaceae), herb and roots were studied for anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities.
Materials and method: The alcoholic extracts of
Astragalus gummifer (F. Fabaceae), herb (AGHE), and roots (AGRE), were used for antiinflammatory
and hepatoprotective activities in Wister rats. The effects of AGHE and AGRE were compared with the standard drugs
Phenylbutazone and silymarin, for anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities respectively.
Result: Both extracts showed significant anti-inflammatory activity (P< 0.001). AGRE showed comparatively more significant hepatoprotective
activity (P< 0.001), than AGHE (P< 0.05); at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight as manifested by lowering the serum levels of aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total
bilirubin. The hepatoprotective activity was, also, supported by total protein (TP), malondialdehyde (MDA), nonprotein sulfhydryls (NP-SH), and
histo-pathological studies of liver tissue.
Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of
Astragalus gummifer.
The results of present studies indicated that both AGHE and AGRE can be used in inflammatory conditions, while investigation supports the use
of AGRE in cases that hepatoprotection are required in the hepatotoxic conditions. More supportive studies are required before clinical
recommendation.
