Table 2.

Histological characteristics of H&E and Trichrome stained liver sections in the control, vehicle-treated, acetaminophen-treated (500 mg/kg/day), Milk Thistle Extract treated (MTE 200 and 400 mg/kg/day) and chicory extract treated groups (CE500 and 1000 mg/kg/day) groups after 28 days

	Groups	Control	Vehicle	Acet.500	MTE200	MTE400	CE500	CE1000
Number	H&Estaining
1	Glycogen depletion	0	0	+	+	0	0	0
2	Hemorrhage	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Congestion	0	0	+++	++	++	++	++
4	Sinusoidal dilation	0	0	++	+	+	+	+
5	Edema	0	0	++	0	+	+	+
6	Inflammatory infiltration (Lymphocytic infiltration)	0	0	+	+	+	+	0
7	Vacuolization	0	0	++++	+++	++	++	+
8	Bile stasis	0	0	+	+	0	0	0
9	Bile plugs	0	0	+	+	0	0	0
10	Kupffer cell hyperplasia	0	0	+	+	+	+	++
11	Pyknosis	0	0	+	+	0	0	0
12	Necrosis	0	0	++	++	0	0	0
Masson's Trichrome staining
Fibrosis		0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Reticulin staining
Necrosis		0	0	++	0	0	0	0

Histological changes were scored as none (0), active damage less than 25% (+), active damage less than 50% (++), active damage less than 75% (+++) damage and active damage more than 75% (++++).

Histological changes were scored as none (0), active damage less than 25% (+), active damage less than 50% (++), active damage less than 75% (+++) damage and active damage more than 75% (++++).