Canadian Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences

Abstract: Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is one of the oldest and most frequently used botanical treatments in many countries. The present study investigated the protective effect of licorice water extract against metiram fungicide induced liver toxicity in albino mice (Mus musculus). Metiram is an ethylenebisdithiocarbamate fungicide used against a wide range of fungal diseases of field crops and fruits. Treating albino mice with metiram at a dose level of ½ LD50 (1240 mg/kg b.w.) for 10 days dissolved in distilled water induced various histological changes in the liver. These changes include congestion of blood vessels, leucocytic infiltration, cytoplasmic vacuolization of the hepatocytes and pyknosis. Metiram also caused an increase in PCNA expression in hepatocytes nuclei. The biochemical result revealed that there was significant elevation in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Treating animals with licorice water extract for 10 days followed by metiram led to an improvement in the histological liver picture together with a decrease in the expression of PCNA in hepatocytes nuclei. Moreover, pretreatment with licorice reduced ALT and AST activity. The results of the present work proved that licorice extract revealed potent protective activity against metiram fungicide –induced hepatotoxicity in mice. It is suggested that this may be attributed to antioxidative action of one (e.g. glycyrrhizin) or more of licorice components.