Therapeutic role of alcoholic extract of Ephedra alata against lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats

This experiment aimed to assess the effect of Ephedra alata on toxic changes induced by lead acetate in rats. Forty male albino rats (185-215 g) were randomly assigned to five equal groups: the first received distilled water (control); the second received lead acetate alone (120 mg/kg); the third received alcoholic extract of E. alata alone (30 mg/kg); the fourth was pretreated with E. alata and then given lead acetate; and the fifth received lead acetate followed by E. alata. In the lead-acetate group, biochemical tests showed significant increases in aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β ), and transforming growth factor- β (TGF- β ), together with a decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), compared with the control group. Results for the E. alata-only group were comparable to controls. In both the pretreatment and post-treatment groups, levels of AST, ALT, MDA, IL-1 β , and TGF- β decreased, whereas TAC increased, relative to the lead-acetate group. Histopathological examination revealed marked hepatic changes in rats exposed to lead acetate alone compared with controls, while the remaining groups did not show severe alterations. These findings indicate a therapeutic role of E. alata extract against lead-acetate-induced hepatotoxicity.