Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activities of <i>Satureja punctata</i> Benth Briq and <i>Solanecio angulatus</i> Vahl Jeffrey in Ferric Nitrillotriacetate Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

Satureja punctata Benth. Briq (Lamiaceae) and Solanecio angulatus Vahl Jeffrey (Asteraceae) are among the plants widely used in Ethiopian traditional medicine for the treatment of liver diseases. The study aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective activity of the crude extracts and solvent fractions of these medicinal plants. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated by measuring levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) as well as by morphologic pathology and antioxidant assay against ferric nitrilotriacetate induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Crude aqueous extract of S. punctata at 250 and 500 mg/kg suppressed plasma levels of AST and ALT (p<0.01), and AP (p<0.01 and p<0.001). S. angulatus at 400 mg/kg decreased AP (p<0.05), whilst 200 mg/kg reduced AST and AP (P<0.01), without affecting ALT. The methanol fraction of S. punctata (500 mg/kg) showed maximum hepatoprotective activity comparable to silymarin (p<0.001, in all cases). Likewise, the chloroform fraction (250 mg/kg) reduced to a similar extent (p<0.01 in all cases). The aqueous fraction (250 mg/kg) showed significant reduction in AST and ALT (p<0.001) and AP (p<0.05), but 500 mg/kg failed to affect levels of AP. The methanol fraction was able to return the normal hepatic architecture of hepatocytes and scavenge free radicals in 1,1-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. S. punctata is endowed with hepatoprotective activity, probably mediated via its antioxidant activity. Thus, S. punctata can be taken as one candidate  for development of hepatoprotective agents as it was also showed good safety profile.Keywords: Satureja punctata, Solanecio angulatus, hepatoprotective, ferric nitrilotriacetate, antioxidant