Assessment of Foeniculum vulgare in ameliorating acute carbon tetrachloride-induced hepato-renal toxicity in vivo

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl?) toxicity is a well-established model for studying liver and kidney injury. Foeniculum vulgare, a medicinal herb, has shown hepatoprotective effects in various liver injury models, but its efficacy in acute CCl?-induced toxicity remains underexplored. To evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of F. vulgare in an acute CCl? toxicity rat model through biochemical and histopathological assessments. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: Control, CCl?-exposed, and F. vulgare-treated. Liver and kidney function markers, including urea, creatinine, albumin, cholesterol, and liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)), were analyzed. Liver and kidney tissues underwent histopathological examination. CCl? exposure significantly reduced urea and creatinine levels, indicating kidney impairment, and decreased albumin levels, suggesting compromised liver function. F. vulgare treatment restored urea levels and attenuated creatinine decline but did not fully normalize albumin levels. Cholesterol levels increased following CCl? exposure, with partial mitigation by F. vulgare. Histopathological findings showed severe hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in CCl?-exposed rats, while F. vulgare treatment ameliorated these changes. F. vulgare exhibited hepatoprotective effects against acute CCl?-induced liver and kidney injury, as evidenced by biochemical and histopathological findings. These results support its potential therapeutic role in mitigating hepatotoxin-induced organ damage. Key words: Foeniculum vulgare, carbon tetrachloride, hepatoprotective, liver injury, kidney injury.