Today, fascioliasis is considered to be an important human disease caused by 2 liver fluke species, Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica (Fasciolidae), infecting the liver of a wide range of mammals [1] that show a marked variability in their immune response against infection [2]. There are several geographic regions that have been reported to be areas of hypoendemicity, mesoendemicity, and hyperendemicity for fascioliasis in

Rosmarinus offi cinalis (Lamiaceae) possesses antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effects, and so may provide a possible therapeutic alternative for chronic liver disease. The effect produced by a methanolic extract of Rosmarinus offi cinalis on CCl 4 -induced liver cirrhosis in rats was investigated using both prevention and reversion models. Over the course of the development of cirrhosis, the increased enzymatic activities of gammaglutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminotransferase, and the rise in bilirubin levels caused by CCl 4 administration, were prevented by Rosmarinus offi cinalis co-administration. When the cirrhosis by oxidative stress was evaluated as an increase on liver lipoperoxidation, total lipid peroxides, nitric oxide in serum, and loss of erythrocyte plasma membrane stability, R. offi cinalis was shown to prevent such alterations. On cirrhotic animals treated with CCl 4 , histological studies showed massive necrosis, periportal infl ammation and fi brosis which were modifi ed by R. offi cinalis. These benefi ts on experimental cirrhosis suggest a potential therapeutic use for R. offi cinalis as an alternative for liver cirrhosis.