Histopathologic and immunohistochemical investigation of the therapeutic effect of stinging nettle seed (Urtica dioica Seed) in ethanol-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Yardımcı M, Histopathologic and Immunohistochemical Investigation of the Therapeutic Effect of Stinging Nettle Seed (Urtica dioica Seed) in Ethanol-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats, University of Van Yuzuncu Yil, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Pathology, M.Sc. Thesis, Van, 2019. In this study, it was investigated histopathologically and immunohistochemically whether it is possible to reverse fibrosis by using nettle seed extract in the 2-month treatment period after the liver fibrosis was formed experimentally for 8 weeks with ethyl alcohol. A total of 24 rats were used in the study and rats were divided into three groups as 8 in each. The trial period was determined as 4 months. The first group (Control) was fed by standard rat pellet feed. In the second group (alcohol group) and the third group (alcohol + nettle seed group), hepatic fibrosis was formed in the first 2 months of the study by giving 4 mL/kg of 30% ethyl alcohol once a day by means of orogastric gavage. In the next third and fourth months, while only alcohol was given to the second group, the third group was applied nettle extract (30mg/kg/rat) together with alcohol. At the end of the experiment, tissue samples taken from the liver of rats through necropsy were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. In conclusion, in accordance with histopathological and immunohistochemical findings; it has been observed that degenerative-necrotic changes and significant recoveries of fibrosis in the liver have occurred due to the effect of many therapeutic properties of nettle seed extract and regenerative capacity of the liver. As a result of biochemical analysis, ALT, AST, LDL, GGT and HDL levels decreased in the alcohol group compared to the control group. However, glucose, LDL, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased compared to the control group. In the alcohol + Nettle seed group, ALT, AST, LDH, glucose, LDL and triglyceride levels declined compared to the control group whereas alkPase, GGT, HDL and total cholesterol levels increased compared to the control group. The results of the study showed that nettle seed extract could be used in the treatment of fibrosis in patients with alcoholic hepatic fibrosis.