RESUMO
This study aimed to investigate and compare hepatoprotective activity of Coriandrum sativum (Cs) and it is major component linalool (Ln) against experimentally induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Essential oil of Cs was isolated by hydrodistillation method and chemical composition was determined by GS-MS analysis. 42 male Wistar Albino rats were divited into 7 groups each containing 6. The experimental groups were designed as: Normal control group, 1 ml/kg CCl4 administirated group, 25 mg/kg Silymarin and CCl4 administirated group, 100 and 200 mg/kg Cs and CCl4 administirated groups, 100 and 200 mg/kg Ln and CCl4 administered groups. The protective activities were determined according to the results of liver biomarkers (AST, ALT, ALP), antioxidant parameters (GSH, GPx, CAT), lipid peroxidation (MDA) and histopathological examination. Linalool percentage of Cs was 81.6%. The groups treated with linalool (100 and 200 mg/kg) (p < 0.01) and coriander (200 mg/kg) (p < 0.05) had significantly reduced AST (262-375) and ALT (101-290) levels (U/L) compared to the CCl4 (600-622) group. The levels (nmol/g protein) of MDA (11-12) were significantly lower (p < 0.01), the levels of GSH (11-12) and the activities of CAT (23-24) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in linalool groups (100 and 200 mg/kg) compared to the CCl4 (18-5-10 respectively) group. These results were also supported by histopathological findings and indicate that Cs and Ln shows hepatoprotective activity against liver damage. In this regard, evaluation of activities of major components are needed to compare to medicinal plants in experimental diseases models.