*6.1. Hepatoprotective Activity*

Various species of amaranth exhibit hepatoprotective activity. Information on such activity can be found in many scientific papers. Zeashan et al., (2009) demonstrated the hepatoprotective activity of whole plant extract, which was evaluated at 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 mg/mL concentrations against CCl4-induced toxicity in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. Ethanolic extract of *Amaranthus spinosus* showed hepatoprotective activity in a dose-dependent manner [21]. In the study by Aneja et al., (2013), the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of roots of *Amaranthus tricolor* Linn. was analyzed in paracetamol overdose-induced hepatotoxicity in a Wistar albino rat model [22]. The extract examined significantly prevented the physical, biochemical, histological, and functional changes induced by paracetamol in the liver of rats, thereby exhibiting hepatoprotective activity [22]. Other authors also mention the hepatoprotective activity of amaranth, which is attributed to the oil and extracts of the plant [7]. Enrichment of the diet with amaranth oil regulates the lipid profile and has a protective effect on the liver. Primarily, amaranth oil modulates physicochemical properties of lipids and cell membranes of hepatocytes. As a result, it stabilizes cell membranes and acts as a hepatoprotective agen<sup>t</sup> [7]. Squalene is known to exhibit antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties, and also regulates cholesterol levels and helps remove toxic substances from the body [6]. Since a significant squalene content has been found in amaranth oil [13], this liver-protective activity is probably due to this.
