PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF FLAVONOIDS EXTRACTED FROM PARSLEY (PETROSELINUM SATIVUM L .) LEAVES ON LIVER FUNCTION IN MALE RATS EXPOSED TO CADMIUM CHLORIDE

This study was carried out to investigate the protective and antioxidant effects of the flavonoids extracted from (Petroselinum sativum) parsley leaves on hepatic function in adult male rats exposed to 50 ppb cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in drinking water. Crude flavonoids were extracted from parsley leaves. Further purification of flavonoid was performed by gel permeation column chromatography on Sephadex LH-20. Then it was identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC). The results showed that the yield of crude flavonoids from parsley leaves was approximately 2.68 % of dry leaves. Purification of crude flavonoids on Sephadex LH-20 clarified three peaks activity and the proportions of the purified fractions P1, P2 and P3 were 14.06, 82.43 and 3.5 % respectively. Thin layer chromatography confirmed that P2 was pure apigenin depending on its Rf value which is similar to that detected previously by Harborn(1984). According to available literature, apigenin was purified in this study for the first time in Iraq comprised 0.47% of dry parsley leaves. Thirty adult Albino male rats were randomly and equally divided into three groups (10 rat/group) and were treated daily for 60 days as follows: Group C (control), Group T1: Rats of this group received drinking water containing 50 ppb of CdCl2, Group T2: Rats of this group were given orally 150 mg/kg B.W. of flavonoids (apigenin) extracted from parsley in addition to 50 ppb of CdCl2 in drinking water. Fasting blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture technique at 0, 30 and 60 days of experiment to measure the following parameters: Serum glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde(MDA)concentrations, Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)activities. The results revealed that animals exposed to 50 ppb of CdCl2 in water for 60 days suffered hepatic damage manifested by a significant elevation in the serum AST and ALP activities, as well as a case of oxidative stress as indicated by the significant elevation in serum MDA and suppression in serum GSH concentrations. Intubation of flavonoids concurrently with CdCl2 caused a significant correction of the above mentioned studied parameters. Moreover, occurrence of liver damage as a result of cadmium exposure characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration as well as hypertrophy and hyperplasia of hepatic cell has been emphasized. While oral intubation of flavonoids caused regression of the lesion. In conclusion the results of this study have confirmed the deleterious effect of Cd on liver functions and documented the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of flavonoids extracted from parsley.