Potential protective effects of rosemary extract, against aspartame induced hepatotoxicity in male rats

Abstract

The present study seeks to evaluate the possible protective effects of aqueous rosemary extract against aspartame overdose-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Three groups of rats were treated orally one time /2 days for twelve weeks: first group was regarded as control, the second group was given aspartame at a dose level of 1000 mg/kg b.wt, and the third was given aspartame with the same previous dose and rosemary at a dose level of 125mg/kg b.wt. Our results showed that pretreatment with rosemary extract, produced a highly significant decrease in the elevated  levels of hepatic lipid peroxidation and serum tumor necoresis factor, and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase (P <0.01) in serum. Rosemary extract also induced a highly significant increase in serum albumin level (P < 0.01), restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes and limited histological changes of liver induced by aspartame.

Key Words: Aspartame, Rosemary extract, Toxicity, Overdose and Oxidative stress.