Purpose: To test the hepatoprotective effect of water extract from Bidens Pilosa L. (BPE) in cholestatic liver disease induced by ligature and resection of the common bile ducts (LRBD) in young rats.
Methods: We studied four groups of ten 21 days old (P21) Wistar rats, Group SW: sham operation and water; Group SD: sham operation and BPE (160 mg of fresh leaves/100 g of body weight/day); Group LW: LRBD and water and Group LD: LRBD and BPE daily. Pentobarbital sleeping time (PST) and serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were determined after the sacrifice (P70). A Ruwart's score for hepatic fibrosis (RS) was given to each animal. Were employed two way ANOVA and the test of Tukey or a non-parametric test for multiple comparisons.
Results: There were statistically significant differences between LW and LD in the measurements of the PST ((means LW=390; LD=173), AST (means LW=8, LD=5), ALT (medians LW=2; LD=1) e RS (medians LW=2; LD=1).
Conclusion: BPE could be used in the phytotherapy of the hepatic damage induced by chronic obstructive cholestasis, because protects liver function, decreases the rate of necrosis and liver fibrosis in cholestatic liver disease.