Open AccessHEPATOPROTECTIVE EVALUATION OF EPALTES DIVARICATA (L.) CASS. WHOLE PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST PARACETAMOL-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS
Author(s) -
K. Amala,
R. Ilavarasan,
R. Arunadevi,
S. Amerjothy
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences/international journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2656-0097
pISSN - 0975-1491
DOI - 10.22159/ijpps.2016v8i12.14951
Subject(s) - chemistry , alanine transaminase , acetaminophen , aspartate transaminase , bilirubin , hepatoprotection , pharmacology , traditional medicine , alkaline phosphatase , biochemistry , enzyme , medicine , glutathione
Objective: The plant of Epaltesdivaricata (L.) Cass. Traditionally used for jaundice. The present work aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of alcohol and aqueous extract of the whole plant against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats to substantiate its traditional use. Methods: The alcohol and aqueous (200 and 400 mg/kg) extract of Epaltes divaricata prepared by cold maceration were administered orally to the animals with hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol (1000 mg/kg). Silymarine (40 mg/k) was given as reference standard. Hepatoprotective activity was assessed by estimating marker enzymes and by histopathological studies. Results: Both alcohol and aqueous (200 and 400 mg/kg) extract treatment significantly restored the paracetamol-induced elevations in levels of serum enzymes aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphate (ALP) and total bilirubin in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological examination revealed that the treatment attenuated the paracetamol-induced damage to the liver. The hepatoprotective effect of both extracts was comparable to that of the standard hepatoprotective agent, silymarin. Conclusion: The alcohol and aqueous extract of E. divaricata exhibited hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol-induced liver damage in rats. This study also validated their traditional medicinal use in jaundice.