Does rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) support regeneration of rat liver after intoxication by carbon tetrachloride?

This study evaluates the effect of rooibos tea (RT, Aspalathus linearis) on biochemical and histological parameters during rat liver regeneration after intoxication by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). From the 10th week, when the administration of CCl4 was terminated, the liver tissue began to regenerate. Seven days later in the regeneration phase, the animals treated by RT during whole period of the experiment, and those which drunk RT only during the regeneration period, exhibited a trend for decrease in the activity of alanine aminotransferase and significant decrease in the activity of aspartate aminotransferase and in total bilirubin content when compared with the water-drinking group. At the same time, the concentration of plasma albumin was elevated and that of tissue malondialdehyde decreased in the both groups drinking RT. After 42 days of regeneration, all biochemical parameters in all three groups reached the level of control healthy animals. In both groups treated with RT, the extent of fibrotic tissue was lower than in the group which received water. We conclude that RT can be recommended not only for the prevention but also as a co-adjuvant for the therapy of liver diseases.