The protective role of Benincasa hispida on nimesulide - induced hepatotoxicity in albino rat model

Abstract

The objective of the present investigation was to study the protective role of aqueous extract of pulps of Benincasa hispida (BH) on nimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity model in adult male albino rats. Hepatotoxicity in rats was caused by nimesulide at a dose of 10 mg-/ ml/kg body weight. Hepamerz (L-ornithine, L-aspartate) was administered orally as standard hepatoprotective agent for 14 consecutive days prior to nimesulide treatment at a dose of 10 mg-/ml/kg body weight. This drug has many side effects. These side effects have prompted the scientific world for the search of alternative herbal remedies of liver damage. In our country BH is easily available, cheap and has no side effects. The aqueous pulp extract of BH was administered orally to rats daily for 14 days before nimesulide treatment. The biochemical parameters were investigated. The results indicated that biochemical changes produced by nimesulide were restored to normal by aqueous extract of pulps of BH. The aqueous pulp extract of BH showed significant hepatoprotective effect through the modulation of antioxidant-mediated mechanism by altering serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation levels against nimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity model in rats. Key words: Benincasa hispida, Hepamerz, hepatotoxicity, nimesulide