Hepatoprotective effect of Caralluma umbellate against acetaminophen induced oxidative stress and liver damage in rat

Abstract

To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extracts of Caralluma umbellata Haw. (ECU) against acetaminophen (APAP) induced hepatic damage in rats. Hepatoprotective activity of ECU was evaluated in APAP induced hepatic damage in rat. Hepatic damage was assessed by an elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholesterol, and total bilirubin which were released in to the blood from damaged cells. Hepatic tissue antioxidant enzyme such as, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH) and Catalase (CAT) was also determined in APAP induced hepatic damage in rat. Pre-treatment of ECU, 1 h prior to APAP administration significantly protected the elevation of serum transaminases, ALP and cholesterol activities. Similarly the activity of total bilirubin was significantly ( P < 0.05) decreased in ECU plus APAP treated group than the acetaminophen induced hepatotoxic group. Both pre-treatment of ECU and silymarin diets significantly inhibited the depletion of antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPx, GSH and CAT, compared to the group of APAP treated rats. The results revealed that pre-treatment with ECU prevented both serum biochemical and tissue antioxidant evidence of hepatic damage induced by APAP and it could be used as natural potential ingredients for pharmaceutical industry.