Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effect of Azadirachta indica Leaf Extractonaceclofenac Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Hepatotoxicity is the most serious adverse effects of Aceclofenac. In this study, the effect of Aceclofenac (ACE) induced liver damage in rats was investigated. Administration of ACE (90mg/kg/day) for 28 days produced severe liver injury, as demonstrated by dramatic elevation of serum hepatospecific markers like serum aspertate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum ã-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). In addition, the level of plasma and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was elevated inACE treated rats as compared to those of the experimental control rats. A remarkable reduction in hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) content were also observed on ACE administration as compared with experimental control rats. However, simultaneous treatments with Azadirachta indica (AI) leaf extract (both 250 and 500mg/kg) significantly attenuatedACE induced hepatotoxicity. The results showed that serum AST, ALT, ALP and GGT (p<0.05), and hepatic TBARS (p<0.01) were reduced dramatically, and hepatic SOD (p<0.05), CAT (p<0.05), GPx (p<0.01) activity and GSH (p<0.05) content were restored remarkably by AI supplementation. It is therefore suggested that Azadirachta indica can provide a definite hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect against hepatic injury caused by Aceclofenac.