Journal of Natural Remedies

L. Malarvannan , T. Devaki

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Indigofera tinctoria, D-galactosamine/Endotoxin Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant, Lipid Peroxidation

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T. Devaki , K. S. Shivashangari , V. Ravikumar , P. Govindaraju

Abstract

Objective: The present study deals with the effect of ethanolic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa (BD) on tissue defense system against ethanol-induced hepatic injury in rats. Methods: Ethanol (20% alcohol - 2.5 ml/100 g body weight for 90 days) was used for the induction of hepatotoxicity. BD extract (150 mg/ kg body weight/day for 30 days) was administered orally to rats intoxicated with ethanol. Results: Induction with ethanol resulted in an increase in the levels of lipid peroxides with a concomitant decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and reduced glutathione levels. Post treatment with BD ischolar_main extract reversed the deleterious effects of ethanol and the enzyme activities were found to be near normal. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the protective nature of BD ischolar_main extract against ethanol-induced liver damage, proving it to be a potent antioxidant.

Keywords

Boerhaavia Diffusa, Ethanol, Oxidative Stress, Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidants.

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T. Devaki , K. S. Shivashangari , V. Ravikumar , P. Govindaraju

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa ischolar_main against ethanol-induced hepatic damage. Methods: Ethanol (20% alcohol - 2.5 ml/100 g body wt. for 90 days) was used for the induction of hepatotoxicity. Boerhaavia diffusa ischolar_main extract (150 mg/kg body wt. for 30 days) was administered orally to rats intoxicated with ethanol. Results : Ethanol feeding resulted in liver injury as indicated by the significant increase in the serum activities of marker enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and gamma glutamyl transferase. Further, there was a significant increase in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids followed by a decrease in the levels of phospholipids in serum, liver and kidney. Post treatment of Boerhaavia diffusa extract reversed these alterations to near normal. Conclusion : The results of this study confirm the hepatoprotective action of Boerhaavia diffusa.

Keywords

Boerhaavia Diffusa, Ethanol, Hepatoprotection, Marker Enzymes, Lipids

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