Ameliorating role of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) and Pimpinella anisum (anise) against Zinc oxide nanoparticles induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats

Medicinal plants have been used traditionally worldwide for the prevention and treatment of liver disease. Pimpinella anisum (Anise) or Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) are used frequently as spices. The present study aimed to investigate the potential protective effect of Anise and Fennel aqueous extract, against ZnO nanoparticles which induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Administration of ZnO nanoparticles (30 mg/kg /kg.b.wt) oral daily for 4 weeks resulted in liver damage manifested by a significant increase in serum AST, ALT, and ALP. Increase in MDA and decrease in CAT in the group treated by ZnO nanoparticles.  Immunohistochemistry is observed by the level of Interleukin-6. Rats treated orally with aqueous seed extracts of Pimpinella anisum (Anise, 125 mg/kg) and Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel, 150 mg/kg) for 4 weeks and intoxicated with ZnO nanoparticles showed significant protection against an induced increase in serum liver enzyme (AST, ALT, ALP), restored and ameliorate the increased interleukin-6 level. A significant corrective effect of either Anise or fennel aqueous extract on biochemical parameters were supported by histopathological examination of the rats.
 In conclusion, these data indicated that the aqueous seed extracts of Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) and Pimpinella anisum (Anise) possessed a hepatoprotective activity against hepatotoxicity induced by ZnO nanoparticles in rats.