Eclipta alba ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced structural and functional changes in liver of mice

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the ameliorative effect of Eclipta alba extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)–induced structural and functional changes in livers of mice. Healthy adult Swiss strain female albino mice were orally administered with CCl4 (826 mg/kg body weight/day, p.o.) alone and along with Eclipta alba extract (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight/day, p.o.) for 30 days. The degree of protection was determined by measuring histopathological changes and lipid peroxidation in liver as well as activities of ALT, AST, ACP, ALP, LDH, γ-GT enzymes and bilirubin contents in serum of mice. The histopathological studies revealed severe necrosis, fatty infiltration, lymphocytic infiltration and fibrosis in liver of CCl4 treated mice. In addition, biochemical studies revealed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation. The enzymes activities as well as bilirubin contents in serum were significantly (p<0.05) increased in CCl4 only treated mice when compared with the control group. However, co-treatment of CCl4 along with Eclipta alba extract showed significant reductions in activities of enzymes and bilirubin content as compared with CCl4 alone treated mice. The effects were dose-dependent (r = 0.9826 to 1). Carbon tetrachloride induced lipid peroxidation was significantly (p<0.05) ameliorated in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological changes were also ameliorated on treatment with Eclipta alba extract. The ameliorative effects of Eclipta alba on CCl4–induced hepatotoxicity could be due to its antioxidative property. The extract was found to be safe as evidenced by their high LD50.