Comparative Effects of Scorpion Venom and Aqueous Basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) Leaves Extracts on Ccl4-induced Toxicity in Albino Rats

Abstract

The present study aims to compare the therapeutic effects between to extract scorpion venom (bradykinin potentiating factor; BPF) and aqueous extract of Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) on CCl4-induced toxicity of liver and kidney in albino rats. Rats were divided into 8 groups. Group (1) was served as normal group; Group (2) was injected intraperitoneal (i.p.) once a week for 3 weeks with BPF at a dose (1 μgm/g). Group (3) was received orally O. basilicum extract, twice a week for 6 weeks at dose (20 ml/kg). Group 4 was treated with the same doses of BPF and O. basilicum. Group (5) was injected i.p. with CCl4 (1 ml/kg), 3 times weekly, for 2 weeks and served as control group. Groups 6, 7 and 8 were injected i.p. with CCl4 then treated i.p. with BPF, orally with O. basilicum and BPF plus O. basilicum respectively. The results of the present study cleared that normal group (1) and groups (2, 3 and 4) showed no significant difference in all liver and kidney functions, besides antioxidant enzymes except creatinine and GSH, were highly significant increase in group (4). CCl4 caused a highly significant decrease in serum albumin, uric acid, besides Catalase, GSH, SOD activities in liver tissue, while there are an elevation in serum AST, ALT, ALP, γ-GT, creatinine and Urea, besides MDA and NO levels in liver tissue. While, groups (6, 7 and 8) revealed reverse effect in all parameters and recorded a remarkable improvement, comparing with normal group. It can be concluded that the treatment with the extract from the scorpion venom Buthus occitanus (BPF) is more effective than those of extract from the plant (O. basilicum) against the toxicity of liver and kidney-induced by CCl4 in albino rats. In addition, the hepato-ameliorating and antioxidant effects of two extracts were found to be better than those of extract of BPF or O. basilicum indepently.