Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Pharmacology

Echinacea purpurea L. is a perennial plant of family Asteraceae with a long, well-established medicinal use in North America, Europe and Australia. The aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Echinacea purpurea (E. purpurea) were studied against the male reproductive toxicity, Alzheimer{u2019}s disease and hepatotoxicity. Both plant extracts have no impact on male reproductive efficacy. However, these extracts can protect against Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) induced reproductive oxidative stress in male rats. This was evident from serum testosterone level, semen picture and histopathological picture of the testes. Both extracts of E.purpurea were able to reveal AlCl3-induced neurotoxicity of the brain tissue induced by its oral administration at 150 mg/kg for 60 days. This activity was reflected in vivo by measuring cholinesterase enzyme (ACHE), oxidative stress markers, as well as histopathological picture of the brain and behavioral tests and confirmed in vitro using Ellman{u2019}s assay. Hepatic toxicity was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) for 2 consecutive days/week for 2 weeks.The hepatoprotective effect of E. purpurea extracts was detected in vivo by measuring serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP), liver oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD and GSH) and histopathological picture of the liver tissue. The anti-oxidant effect of E. purpurea extracts was confirmed using MTT assay in vitro. The hepatoprotective effect could be due to the antioxidant activity of these extracts

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