Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Effects of Stereospermum suaveolens on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Damage in Rats

Abstract

The ethanol extract of Stereospermum suaveolens (EESS) bark was evaluated for its hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage, in wistar albino rats. The ethanol extract of Sterespermum suaveolens (EESS) bark (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) was administered to the experimental rats for 14 days. Silymarin (50 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) was given as the standard drug. The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various serum biochemical parameters as glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, and total proteins. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) were determined to explain the possible mechanism of activity. The hepatoprotective activity was also supported by histopathological studies of liver tissue. The substantially elevated levels of serum GOT, GPT, ALP and total bilirubin, due to CCl4 treatment, were restored towards near normal by EESS, in a dose dependent manner. EESS also increased the serum total proteins of CCl4-intoxicated rats. Reduced enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels and elevated lipid peroxide levels were restored towards near normal, by administration of EESS. A histological study showed a reduction of fatty degeneration and liver necrosis in EESS-treated rats. The results revealed that, the ethanol extract of Sterespermum suaveolens afforded significant dose dependent hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects in CCl4-induced hepatic damage.