May 23, 2008

Sea Buckthorn Leaves May Hold Benefit for the Liver

FRIDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- Sea buckthorn leaves are rich in antioxidants and may help protect against liver damage, according to a study by researchers in India.

The berries of the plant -- indigenous to the mountainous regions of China and Russia -- are already well known for their high levels of antioxidants and cholesterol-lowering properties, according to background information in the study.

In this study, the researchers examined whether sea buckthorn leaf extract could protect rats against liver damage.

The rats were divided into six groups: Group one was given a daily dose of saline for five days; group two received saline for four days and on the fifth day received a liver-damaging agent called carbon tetrachloride (CCI4); group three received a daily dose of silymarin for five days followed by a single dose of CCI4; groups four, five and six received 50, 100 and 200 milligrams of sea buckthorn leaf extract, respectively, for five days followed by a single dose of CCI4.

Rats that received CCI4 but no leaf extract suffered significant liver damage compared to the rats that didn't receive CCI4. But liver damage was greatly reduced in the rats that received the 100- and 200-milligram doses of leaf extract and CCI4.

The study was published in the current issue of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

More information

The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more on liver diseases.

-- Robert Preidt
SOURCE: The Society of Chemical Industry, news release, May 23, 2008
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