Hepatoprotective Activity of Cardiospermum helicacabum Stem Extracts Against Carbontetrachloride-induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Natural remedies from medicinal plants are considered to be effective and safe alternative treatments for liver toxicity. Our aim was to demonstrate the hepatoprotective effect of various extracts of Cardiospermum helicacabum (sapindaceae) stem. The various extracts of stem in arachis oil were administered orally for 7 days and the hepatoprotective activity was studied in carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage model in male wistar rats. The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various biochemical parameters like serum bilirubin, protein, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) along with histopathological studies of liver tissue. There was a significant increase in serum levels of bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT and ALP with a decrease in total protein level, in the CCl4 treated animals, reflecting liver injury. In the stem extracts treated animals there was a decrease in serum levels of the markers and significant increase in total protein, indicating the recovery of hepatic cells. These biochemical observations were supplemented by histopathalogical examination of liver section. The effects of extracts were compared with standard drug silymarin. The ethyl acetate stem extract (400mg/kg) of Cardiospermum helicacabum afforded significant protection against CCl4 induced hepatocellular injury compared to all extracts.