Abstract
Background: Certain plants have been claimed to offer some kind of liver protection, often documented as a decline in the liver enzyme amino transferase. The intension of this paper was to outline such plants and to possibly add a new plant Rose-hip (rosa-canina L) to the list.
Methods: Ten healthy middle-aged volunteers equally represented by both sexes were included in an open study where 20 gram of powdered seeds from rose-hip was treated, daily, for three month. Amino transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, cholesterol fractions and glucose metabolism including body weight was tested initial and after three month of treatment.
Results: There was statistically significant declines in amino transferase and C-reactive protein and an improvement of HDL-cholesterol as the result of three month treatment. All other parameters remained unchanged.
Conclusion: The present data show that powdered seeds from rose-hip, when treated for three month, can reduce the liver enzyme amino transferase and work anti-inflammatory. The present data suggest that seeds from rose-hip may protect the liver.