Protective effect of carrot (Daucus carota l.) against lindane-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Daucus carota commonly known as carrot, is widely used in European folk medicine for the treatment of jaundice and hepatic disorders. Oral administration of carrot extract (25 mL/kg/day) for 30 days produced significant hepatoprotection against lindane (20 mg/kg/day) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The increased levels of serum enzymes namely aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol in lindane administered rats were observed to be decreased significantly in the lindane + carrot extract group, The carrot extract also restored the depressed antioxidants and HDL-cholesterol levels to near normal. The results of this study reveal that carrot could afford a significant protective effect against lindane-induced hepatotoxicity, (C) 1998 John Wiley Er Sons, Ltd.