Objective: To evaluate the effect of the Berberis vulgaris fruit extract (BVFE) on the hepatic cells against cytotoxicity induced by gentamicin.
Methodology: This experimental study was conducted at department of Anatomy, Liaquat National Hospital & Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan for a period of four weeks in March 2020. The severity of liver damage was observed in randomly selected four different visual fields of each slide under light microscopy, using the following parameters: hepatolobular architecture, arrangement of hepatocytes within lobules, presence of congestion, hydropic degeneration & vacuolization, inflammatory infiltrate, mean hepatocyte count and mean nuclear diameter.
Results: There was statistically significant difference in mean hepatocyte count (p=0.00) while no significant difference in the mean nuclear diameter among various groups.
Conclusion: Berberis vulgaris fruit extract is hepatoprotective against the damaging effects of drugs like gentamicin in albino rats and the protective effects are better at higher doses.
Key words: Berberis vulgaris fruit extract, gentamicin, hepatotoxicity, histopathologic changes.
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