HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF CYATHULA PROSTRATA LINN. IN PARACETAMOL INDUCED LIVER INJURY IN RATS

Abstract

Herbal medicines derived from plant extracts are being increasingly utilized to treat a wide variety of clinical disease. More attention has been paid to the protective effects of natural antioxidants against drug-induced toxicities especially whenever free radical generation is involved. The ethanolic extract of Cyathula prostrata .L. (Amaranthaceae) whole plants were investigated for its hepatoprotective effect on paracetamol (2g/kg/b.wt/p.o) induced acute liver damage in Wistar albino rats. Hepatoprotection activity was measured by diagnostic marker enzymes such as AST, ALT, ALP, bilirubin, albumin and total protein. The ethanolic extract of Cyathula prostrata (CPE) at the dose of (100 & 200 mg/kg/p.o) produced significant hepatoprotective effect by decreasing the activity of serum enzymes, bilirubin and proteins. The effects of ethanolic extract of Cyathula prostrata were comparable to that of standard drug Silymarin. These results suggest that Cyathula prostrata ethanolic extract exhibits a very significant hepatoprotective effect in albino (Wistar) male rats.