Biochemic Al Studies on Some Aromatic or Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Cichorium intybus and Portulaca oleracea plants native to the northAfrica, especially in Egypt have been chosen for such study due to their importance both as food and as medical plants for treating several common diseases. The present study analyzes chemical and phytochemical constituentes of Portulaca oleracea and Cichorium intybus and evaluates their therapeutic roles on liver, kidney functions and complete blood count in H2O2 intoxicated rats. Six groups of experimental animals are fed on basal diet, five of them intoxicated with H2O2 in drinking water then treated with Portulaca oleracea and Cichorium intybus extracts. This study shows that the total phenolics and total flavonoids contents in Cichorium intybus extracts are higher than that in the Portulaca oleracea extracts. Cichorium intybus extract at orally dose of 75 mg/kg bw improve liver, kidney functions and normalize hematological parameters. It also decreases the MDA level, increases SOD and CAT activities. Cichorium intybus has hepatorenal protective effect as it can protect tissue from free radicals and may provide a cushion for a prolonged therapeutic option against liver and kidney diseases without harmful side effects.