<i>In Vivo</i>Hepato-Protective Properties of the Essential Oils of <i>Boswellia papyrifera</i>(Del.) Hochst (Burseraceae) and <i>Ruta chalepensis</i>L. (Rutaceae)

Objective: Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst and Ruta chalepensis L. are aromatic plants used in the Republic of Djibouti, both as food and medicine. The importance of essential oils of these two species in the treatment of certain pathologies such as inflammations and infections has led to an assessment of their composition in volatile organic compounds and their hepato-protective properties on rats poisoned by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Methods: The chemical composition of essential oils studied was determined by GC-MS. The hepato-protective properties of the essential oils of Boswellia papyrifera and Ruta chalepensis were assessed through inhibition of hepato toxicity in rats by CCl4 poisoning. The hepato-protection of essential oils was estimated by measuring biochemical and hematological parameters. Results: Essential oils of Boswellia papyrifera and Ruta chalepensis reduced the blood level of transaminases and triglycerides at the dependent dosage, and restored liver proteins (0.27 g/l) to levels similar to those rats not poisoned by CCl4. Blood levels of uric acid, urea, creatinine and HDL have also been restored to values similar to those of non-poisoned rats. The chemical composition of the essential oils studied shows that Boswellia papyrifera contains incensole acetate (43.76%) and isoincensole (18.42%), and that Ruta chalepensis contains menthyl acetate (29.8%) and piperitone (22.22%). Conclusion: The studies carried out have shown that the essential oils of Boswellia papyrifera and Ruta chalepensis have a hepato-protective potential similar to that of sylimarin (reference hepato-protective substances). The results show that the essential oils of Boswellia papyrifera and Ruta chalepensis could present good prospects in the formulation of phytomedicines for the management of liver diseases.