Protective Effect of Indigofera tinctoria on Tissue Antioxidant Defence System against D-galactosamine and Endotoxin-induced Hepatopathy in Rats

Objective: The effects of pre-treatment with alcoholic extract of Indigofera tinctoria Linn (Leguminosae) (500 mg/kg body wt/day orally for 21 days) on liver antioxidant defense system during acute hepatitis induced by D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/endotoxin (LPS extracted by phenol water method from E. coli serotype 0111.B₄) was investigated in male albino rats. Materials and Methods: The activities of enzymic antioxidant such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase were assayed and the levels of total reduced glutathione was estimated in the liver of normal and experimental groups of rats. The activities of non-enzymic antioxidant (ceruloplasmin) and iron, ferritin was also estimated. Since lipid peroxidation and associated membrane damage is a key feature of D-GalN/LPS- induced liver injury, the levels of lipid peroxides, was estimated and was used as an index of oxidative stress. Results: D-GalN/endotoxin-induced hepatic damage was manifested by a significant decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, decreased glutathione levels and increased levels of lipid peroxides. Indigofera tinctoria (IT) pre-treated rats showed considerable protection against D-GalN/endotoxin-induced oxidative stress as evidenced by a significant increase in the activities of all the antioxidant enzymes studied and significant decrease in the levels of lipid peroxides. Conclusion: Our results indicate that pretreatment with IT extract in rats is very effective in ameliorating D-GalN/ endotoxin-induced oxidative stress and thereby suggest an antioxidant effect.