The Chemical Constituents and the Hepato-protective Effect of the Essential Oil of Ferulago campestris (Besser) Grecescu (Apiaceae)

Ferulago campestris (Besser) Grecescu (Apiaceae), a perennial herb, has been traditionally used for the treatment of intestinal worms, haemorrhoids, ulcers, snake bites, as well as headache and diseases of the spleen. We distilled the essential oil of F. campestris (OFC) and investigated its protective effect on D-galactosamine/lipopolysacchride (GalN/LPS) induced liver injury in rats. The chemical constituents of OFC were determined by GC-FID and GC-MS. SD rats were treated orally with or without OFC (20, 50 mg/kg) for three consecutive days and then challenged with GalN/LPS for eight hours. The serum concentration of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined with commercial kits and the liver injury was examined by H&E staining. The mRNA expression of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in liver tissues were determined by real-time PCR. The major fraction of OFC was given by monoterpene hydrocarbons (78.8 %) such as myrcene (33.4 %) alpha-pinene (23.0 %) and gamma-terpinene (10.9 %). Oral administration of OFC dramatically inhibited GalN/LPS-induced serum elevation of AST, ALT, and MDA levels, and significantly ameliorated liver injury. Furthermore, OFC treatment significantly inhibited GalN/LPS-induced mRNA expression of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in liver tissues. OFC protect GalN/LPS-induced liver injury in rats possibly by decreasing oxidative stress and inhibiting cytokines.