potential hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant role of methanol extract of oldenlandia umbellata in carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in wistar rats

the present work examines the protective mechanisms of methanol extract of oldenlandia umbellata (meou) in carbon tetrachloride intoxicated rats. rats were treated with carbon tetrachloride at the dose of 1 ml/kg body weight intraperitonially once in every 72 hrs for 16 days. the hepatoprotective activity of methanol extract of oldenlandia umbellata was evaluated by measuring levels of serum marker enzymes glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (sgot), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (sgpt) and alkaline phosphatase (alp). the serum levels of total protein and bilirubin were also estimated. the histological studies were also the present work examines the protective mechanisms of methanol extract of oldenlandia umbellata (meou) in carbon tetrachloride intoxicated rats. rats were treated with carbon tetrachloride at the dose of 1 ml/kg body weight intraperitonially once in every 72 hrs for 16 days. the hepatoprotective activity of methanol extract of oldenlandia umbellata was evaluated by measuring levels of serum marker enzymes glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (sgot), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (sgpt) and alkaline phosphatase (alp). the serum levels of total protein and bilirubin were also estimated. the histological studies were also carried out to support the above parameters. administration of meou (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (p< 0.05) prevented ccl4-induced elevation of levels of serum gpt, got, alp, and bilirubin. the total protein level was decreased due to hepatic damage induced by ccl4 and it was found to be increased in methanol extract of oldenlandia umbellata treated group. treatment of rats with ccl4 led to a marked increase in lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde (mda). this was associated with a significant reduction of the hepatic antioxidant system e.g. reduced glutathione (gsh) and catalase. these biochemical alterations resulting from ccl4 administration were significantly (p< 0.05) inhibited by pretreatment with methanol extract of oldenlandia umbellata. the results are comparable with standard drug silymarin. a comparative histopathological study of liver exhibited almost normal architecture, as compared to ccl4 treated control group. these data suggest that the methanol extract of oldenlandia umbellata may act as a hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent.