Hepatoprotective effect of methanolic extract of the leaves of Kydia calycina on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats

Abstract

The hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Kydia calycina (Malvaceae) (KCME) at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg were evaluated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxication inrats. The toxic group which received 1 ml/kg (50% CCl4 in olive oil) per oral, alone exhibited significant increase in serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphate (ALP) and total bilirubin (TB) levels. It also exhibited significant (P < 0.001) decrease in serum total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) levels. The groups that received pretreatment of K. calycina leaves extract at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg per oral showed reduced levels of the ALT, AST, ALP and TB effects were compared with standard drug (Silymarin 50 mg/kg). The KCME 500 showed a better hepatoprotective activity (P < 0.001) than KCME 250 comparable to the reference standard drug (Silymarin). The histopathological studies indicated that the hepatic damage induced by CCl4 were remarkably reduced by the standard silymarin, KCME 250 and KCME 500, and showed a reduced fatty changes, necrosis and broad infiltration of lymphocytes produced by CCl4. Key words: Kydia calycina, carbon tetrachloride, silymarin.