Cichorium intybus Improves Hepatic Complications Induced by Oxymetholone: An Animal Study

Oxymetholone (OM) is a 17-α-alkylated anabolic-androgenic steroid used at low doses for the treatment of diseases such as anemia and osteoporosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Cichorium intybus L. (Chicory) extract on OM-induced changes in liver enzymes, serum antioxidant status and liver tissue in rats. 42 Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups (n=7): control group (0.5 ml distilled water), OM group (5 mg/kg), C. intybus groups (100 or 200 mg/kg), and OM+C. intybus groups (5 mg/kg OM+100 or 200 mg/kg extracts). After two weeks, the animals were weighed and serum was separated to assay liver enzymes [aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatases (ALP)], nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The liver was separated, weighed, fixed and stained with the hematoxylin-eosin method. OM significantly increased NO and liver enzyme (AST, ALP, ALP) concentrations, and significantly decrease serum TAC, animal and liver weights (P<0.05) and changed liver histology. Different concentrations of C. intybus extract (100 or 200 mg/kg) improved these OM-induced changes significantly (P<0.05). Chicory reversed serum biochemical and histological changes due to OM consumption.