Table 1.

Quantitative summary of the protective effects of silymarin and POE on CCl₄-induced hepatic damage based on histological observations.

Groups	Injury of score
	Vacuolization	Hepatocellular Necrosis	Inflammation
Control	0	0	0
CCl4 (0.175% CCl4/olive oil)	2.40 ± 0.20###	3.89 ± 0.99###	1.83 ± 0.14###
Silymarin: 0.2 g/kg + CCl4	0.63 ± 0.23**	2.00 ± 0.41	0.67 ± 0.15**
POE: 0.1 g/kg + CCl4	1.13 ± 0.26	3.14 ± 0.26	1.22 ± 0.13
POE: 0.5 g/kg + CCl4	1.29 ± 0.25	2.13 ± 0.40	0.67 ± 0.18*
POE: 1.0 g/kg + CCl4	0.75 ± 0.28**	1.50 ± 0.36*	0.63 ± 0.23**

To quantify the histological index of vacuolization and hepatocellular necrosis of liver; the liver damage was graded 0–4 as following: 0 = no visible cell damage; 1 = slight (1–25%); 2 = moderate (26–50%); 3 = moderate/severe (51–75%); 4 = severe/high (76–100%) [36]. Values are mean ± SEM (n = 10).

^#Indicates significant difference from the control group (^###p < 0.001).

^*Indicates significant difference with respect to the CCl₄ group (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01).