Abstract

Ethanol-induced liver injury is an aggravated liver disease with a diverse spectrum from steatosis to hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Epidemiological studies reveal that ethanol-induced liver injury has become one of the most intense threats to global health. Therefore, this study investigated the hepatoprotective property of Allium ascalonicum extract against ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. Aqueous crude extract of A. ascalonicum bulbs was prepared, and acute toxicity was, then, carried out in mice. The results indicated that A. ascalonicum extract at the dose up to 2,000 mg/kg/day did not cause mortality and liver injury as indicated by non-significant differences in AST, ALT, GGT, and ALP levels, compared to healthy control within the monitoring period. For in vivo efficacy test, the experimental mice were orally administered with 50% (v/v) ethanol for 14 consecutive days, then further treated with the extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) once a day for another 7 consecutive days. Significant, dose-dependent decrease of AST, ALT, GGT, and ALP levels was observed in ethanol-induced liver injury mice treated with A. ascalonicum extract. The present study clearly demonstrated that the aqueous crude extract of A. ascalonicum bulbs exert a hepatoprotective effect against ethanol-induced liver injury in the mice model. A. ascalonicum extract might be a promising remedy to treat alcoholic liver disease.