ELMOUGHJARVMVol2No304

ABSTRACT The ameliorative activity of aqueous extracts of the flesh and pits of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced hepatotoxicity was studied in rats. Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into six equal groups of 10. Four groups received extracts of flesh or pits of Phoenix dactylifera and intraperitoneal (IP) CCl 4 (0.2 ml/100 g) either before or after administration of flesh or pits. Two groups were controls, one treated with CCl 4 and one with only saline. Liver damage was assessed by liver morphology, histology, and estimation of plasma concentration of bilirubin and enzyme activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase. Treatment with aqueous extract of date flesh or pits significantly reduced CCl 4 -induced elevation in plasma enzyme and bilirubin concentration and ameliorated morphological and histological liver damage in rats. This study sug