Antioxidant and Anti-fibrotic Properties of Root Extract of Lythrumsalicaria L. in $Ccl_4$-Induced Liver Fibrosis Rat Model

Fifty percent ethanol extract of Lythrum salicaria Linne root (LSR) was tested in vitro on antioxidant activity, and furthermore was investigated on antioxidative and fibrosis protecting activities in -induced liver fibrosis rat model. Ratio of hepatic GSH/GSSG (reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione) as bio-parameter of antioxidant level in plus LSR-treated rats for 6 weeks significantly increased from 2.8- to 5.7-fold than that of -treated rats at p plus LSR-treated rats ranged from 1.57- to 2.19-fold of normal rats and were lower than those in plus silymarin-treated rats (-fold of normal rats) (p plus LSR-administrated rat livers were /mg (, compared with that in -treated rat livers (/mg tissue), which were significantly lower than those in plus silymarin-administrated rats being /mg (). This collagen reducing effect of liver tissue in plus LSR-treated rats was supported by histological observation using microscopy assay. From the results, we conclude that the root of L. salicaria have efficient antioxidant potential and effective antifibrotic activities.