Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Rhyn-­‐ chosia beddomei baker against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in Wister rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of leaves of ethanolic extract of Rhyn-­‐ chosiabeddomei against  carbon  tetrachloride  (CCl₄)  induced  hepatotoxicity  in  male  Wister  rats.  Hepatotoxicity  was induced in male Wister rats by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (0.1ml/kg/day for 30 days). The ethanolic ex-­‐    tract of Rhynchosiabeddomeiwas administered to the experimental rats (100,200 and 400mg/kg, p.o. for 30 days). The hepatoprotecti-ve effect of these extracts were  evaluated by physical parameters (liver weight and liver vol-­‐ ume), functional parameters, biochemical parameters ( AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, total bilirubin, total protein, urea, uric     acid, creatinine TC,TG and glucose)),antioxidant studies (CAT, SOD and GSH)and histopathological studies of the liver. In ethanolic extract of Rhynchosia beddomei-­‐treated animals, the toxic effect of CCl4 was controlled signifi-­‐ cantly by restoration of the levels of serum bilirubin, total protein and enzymes as compared to the normal and the  standard  drug  Silymarin-­‐treated  groups.  Histology  of  the  liver  sections  of  the  CCl4  treated  animals  with  the extracts and silymarin treated groups, showed the presence of normal hepatic cords, absence of necrosis and fatty infiltration, which further evidenced the hepatoprotective activity. The ethanolic extract of leaves of Rhynchosia-­‐ beddomei possesses significant hepatoprotective activity. The 400 mg/kg wt of ethanolic extract of leaves of Rhynchosiabeddomei shows more potent than 100 and200 mg/kg wt of  ethanolic  extract  of  Rhynchosia  bed-­‐  domei.