PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF CARROT (DAUCUS-CAROTA L.) AGAINST LINDANE-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS

Daucus carota commonly known as carrot, is widely used in European fol k medicine for the treatment of jaundice and hepatic disorders. Oral a dministration of carrot extract (25 mL/kg/day) for 30 days produced si gnificant hepatoprotection against lindane (20 mg/kg/day) induced hepa totoxicity in rats. The increased levels of serum enzymes namely aspar tate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, cholesterol, trigly cerides and LDL-cholesterol in lindane administered rats were observed to be decreased significantly in the lindane + carrot extract group, The carrot extract also restored the depressed antioxidants and HDL-ch olesterol levels to near normal. The results of this study reveal that carrot could afford a significant protective effect against lindane-i nduced hepatotoxicity, (C) 1998 John Wiley Er Sons, Ltd.