Hepatoprotective effects of Foeniculum vulgare Mill Hydromethanol Crude Leaf Extract Against Cisplatin-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Swiss Albino Mice

Ethnopharmacological relevance Liver disease poses a significant public health challenge, especially in developing nations. Foeniculum vulare Mill, a traditional medicine, contains various bioactive compounds demonstrated in our previously published work as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and nephroprotective properties. Aim of the study The study aimed to investigate the liver-protective effects of hydromethanol leaf extract from Foeniculum vulgare Mill on Swiss albino mice subjected to cisplatin-induced liver damage. Materials and methods Thirty Swiss albino mice, each weighing between 25.0 and 38.6 g, were divided into five experimental groups. Group I received 20 mL/kg of distilled water, while Group II was administered only cisplatin. 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW of the extract were given to Groups III, IV, and V, respectively. Groups II to V were administered a single dose of 7.5 mg/kg BW cisplatin on the 11th day of the experiments. The mice were anesthetized and sacrificed on day 15 after an overnight fast, and liver function tests, along with histopathological examinations, were conducted. The DPPH assay was used to determine the antioxidant activity of the extract. The data were entered into EpiData version 4.7, exported to SPSS version 25.0, and analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Results The mice in Group II exhibited markedly elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin, alongside a significant reduction in serum total protein, compared to Group I. Administration of Foeniculum vulgare Mill at a dose of 400 mg/kg resulted in notable reductions in ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin serum levels, as well as a significant rise in total protein levels (p < 0.001) compared with Group II. Moreover, Groups IV and V displayed a decrease in liver index (p < 0.05) relative to Group II. The extract demonstrated a dose-dependent protective effect against liver damage in mice, as compared to the negative control group. Conclusions The findings displayed that Foeniculum vulgare Mill leaf extract could be an effective remedy for preventing cisplatin-induced oxidative liver damage and dysfunction. The protective effect of Foeniculum vulgare Mill extract is attributed to its ability to reduce metal ions and scavenge free radicals.