Background: Liver is an important organ in the body as it secrets bile, stores fat-soluble vitamins and handles cholesterol hemostasis. Cereal crops such as sorghum seeds serve as a rich source of dietary fiber and nutrients. These seeds may protect against hepatotoxicity.
Aim: The purpose of this research was to identify the phytochemical components of sorghum powder and evaluate its protective effects against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
Materials and methods: Forty-eight adult male albino rats were distributed into six groups (n=8). Group (1) was control (non-treated) and group (2) was injected subcutaneously by carbon tetrachloride CCl4 (2 ml/kg) twice a week for 2 consecutive weeks to induce hepatic toxicity Groups (3), (4), (5) and (6) were administered CCl4plus 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% & 10% of sorghum powder, respectively. After 12 hours of fasting, blood samples were taken for biochemical examination from the rats in the experiment. Antioxidant activity, ALT and AST levels, lipid profile (HDL-c, LDL-c & VLDL-c), uric acid, and urea nitrogen were all measured with serum samples from sacrificed rats.
Results: Sorghum seeds powder contains a lot of minerals, fatty acids and many bioactive compounds. It has a high antioxidant activity, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and hypochlosterolemic effects. Sorghum seeds powder ameliorated the histopathological lesion seen in the liver of hepatotoxic male albino rats.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that sorghum powder contains carbohydrates, and many bioactive constituents such as phenolic compounds, carotenoids, chlorophyll, tannins, phytates and dilatory fibers. Sorghum powder decreased body weight gain, increased antioxidant activity but decreased liver enzyme ALT and AST, TC, LDL-c & VLDL-c, while increased HDL-c. Sorghum seeds powder is considered a promising ameliorative agent against CCL4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Therefore, sorghum powder may be beneficial for patients suffering from liver toxicity.