Artemisia gorgonum (Asteraceae) is a common traditional Cape Verde medicinal plant which has been used intensively to treat several inflammatory diseases. However, the most recent studies reported the anti-malaria activity [1], antiviral, anti-tumoral, anti-pyretic, anti-hemorrhagic, anti-coagulant, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-malarial, anti-ulcerogenic and antispasmodic and hepatoprotective activities have been reported for the Artemisia genus [1–5]. Therefore, our aim is to investigate the protective effect of hydroethanolic extract of A. gorgonum (AEAG) against liver injury on rat model.

The inflorescences of A. gorgonum were extracted in 80% ethanol during two days at room temperature. After filtration, the solution was concentrated under reduced pressure and then lyophilized to obtain crude AEAG. Male wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups (n=5 each): first group (normal control) given orally 0.5% of CMC (extract suspended in 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose) for 7 days and then intraperioneally injected with 10 mL/kg/body weight olive oil. The second group (hepatotoxicity control) was orally given 0.5% of CMC for 7 days and then i.p. injected with CCl₄ (0.1% in olive oil, 10 mL/kg, i.v). The third group was pretreated with AEAG at only dose (200 mg/kg per day p.o) during the same period and then hepatotoxicity was induced, by CCl₄ (0.1% in olive oil, 10 mL/kg) i.p. injected [1]. On the final experimental day, after 24 h all the animals were weighed and sacrificed. The liver tissues fixed in Bouin’s solution were embedded in paraffin and sectioned into 5μm sections for histomorphological analysis. Section slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome. Observations and photographs were made using a digital camera (Olympus Camedia C-5060) attached to a microscope (Olympus BX41, Tokyo, Japan). Experiments were conducted based on ethical and scientific principles for animal testing.

The results showed several changes on hepatic sections from second group who were administrated with CCl₄ only (hepatotoxicity control). Histopathological analysis indicated hepatocellular necrosis, ballooned hepatocytes, vacuolation, hemorrhage at portal vein, and bridging collagen accumulation in the CCl₄ group, whereas AEAG treatment evidently alleviated these features (Fig. 1A and B).

Figure 1 Histomorphological data. The effect of AEAG on liver of CCl₄ hepatotoxicity induced rats. The liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (A) and Masson’s trichrome (B) and then pathophysiologic analysis was performed under light microscopy at 200 × magnification.

Our results demonstrated that hydroethanolic extract of A. gorgonum strongly indicate the hepato-protective against liver injury induced by CCl₄ which may be attributed to its immunomodulatory or antioxidative activity, and thereby scientifically supports the traditional use [6].