Punica granatum L var nana: A Hepatoprotective and Curative Agent Against CCl4 Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

Since prehistoric times, medicinal plants and their extracts had been used as prolific sources of medications. Pomegranate is a symbol of life, longevity and in Aurvedic medicine; pomegranate is considered a pharmacy up to itself. Despite several previous studies centered to the phytochemistry and pharmacological actions of all Punica granatum L. components, however, to date, few reports about the variety nana, which implies that this species is yet under-investigated. Punica granatum L. var. nana is a dwarf variety of Punica granatum popularly planted as an ornamental plant in gardens. This study aims to determining the biomedical potentiality of the methanolic extract of Punica granatum L. var. nana leaves as source of botanical hepatoprotective and hepatocurative agents. The methanolic extract exhibited hepatoprotective and curative effects against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats and both effects were preventive and curative. The histopathological studies support the hepatoprotective and curative effects by restoring the normal tissue architecture. Furthermore, this extract was found to be safe by using experimental albino rats suggesting that it may be utilized as a potential source of some beneficial bioactive compounds.