Evaluation of the Hepatoprotective potential and Antioxidant activity of 4–Hydroxybenzyl alcohol on Carbon tetrachloride Induced liver damage in Experimental animals

Abstract

Objective: To study the Hepatoprotective potential and Antioxidant activity of 4 – hydroxybenzyl alcohol in carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats. Materials and methods: Rats were divided into five groups of six animals. Group I was treated with normal saline (Normal control) Group II was treated with the CCl4 hepatotoxic (negative control) Group III was treated with standard drug silymarin (positive control) and Group IV and V was treated with test drug 4–hydroxybenzyl alcohol (Test groups) respectively. On the 7th day, rats were sacrificed and blood was withdrawn by cardiac puncture. The levels and activities of serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes were then assayed using standard procedures. Results: The hepatoprotective activity of 4–hydroxybenzyl alcohol in this study was compared with the reference drug silymarin. In CCl4 treated animals, 4–hydroxybenzyl alcohol significantly decreased levels of serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin, and increased the level of total protein. Treatment with 4 – hydroxybenzyl alcohol resulted in a significant increase in the levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione as compared to CCl4 treated group. Histopathology of the liver tissue further supports the biochemical findings confirming the hepatoprotective potential of 4 – hydroxybenzyl alcohol. Conclusions: From the results it can be concluded that 4–hydroxybenzyl alcohol possesses Hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant activity against CCl4 induced liver damage in rats.