protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of cichorium intybus l. against aluminum chloride-induced toxicity in rats

Background: aluminum is a potent inhibitor of numerous cation-dependent biological processes. traditional medical practitioners have used plant extracts for the treatment of liver disorders for centuries. the present study aimed to assess the hepatoprotective activity of hydroalcoholic extract of cichorium intybus l. against aluminum chloride (alcl3)-induced toxicity in rats. methods:the hepatoprotective activity of extracts (hydroalcoholic extract) at 50 mg/kg body weight was compared with alcl3-treated animals. the animals were assigned to four groups with seven animals in each group. the first group represents control, the second group received aluminum chloride, the third group received c. intybus extract, and the fourth group received c. intybus plus aluminum chloride. the duration of the injection was 15 days. the injection was administered by intraperitoneal method and the sampling was performed one week after the last injection. results: there were significant changes in serum biochemical parameters, such as alanine aminotransferase (alt) and aspartate aminotransferase (ast) enzyme in alcl3-intoxicated mice, which were restored towards normal values in c. intybus-treated animals. histopathological examination of liver tissues further substantiated these findings. conclusion: the results ascertain that the herb extracts of c. intybus possess significant hepatoprotective activity.