Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Activity of Methanolic Extract of Actinodaphne madraspatana Against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatotoxicity

The present study deals with the investigation of the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of methanolic extract of Actinodaphne madraspatana. Biochemical parameters like Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum triglycerides and serum bilirubin were measured. The administration of single dose of 1.25 ml/kg of carbon tetrachloride cause an increase in the serum levels of estimated biochemical parameters whereas group of rats pretreated orally with silymarin (10 mg/kg) and methanolic extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg) of Actinodaphne madraspatana for five consecutive days showed a decrease in the serum levels of biochemical parameters. Histopathological assessment were also done. Histological analysis revealed that methanolic extract of Actinodaphne madraspatana (200 and 400 mg/kg) and silymarin reduced the incidence of liver lesions, central vein necrosis, apoptosis, hepatocellular vascuolization and fatty changes caused by CCl₄. The extract significantly elevated the levels catalase, reduced glutathione and declined the levels of malondialdehyde in liver, as compared to those in CCl₄ treated group and suggests that the hepatoprotective effect of Actinodaphne madraspatana is due to the antioxidant effect of the extract. Phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of A. madraspatana revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and carbohydrates.