Effects of Nerium oleander leaves extract against Thioacetamide induced Liver injury

Various serum proteins are synthesized in the liver. Their serum levels may reduce or elevate due to liver disorders. Thioacetamide (TAA) is a powerful hepatotoxicant, multiple protein systems have been revealed to be injured, counting those present in the mitochondrial respiration, endoplasmic reticulum, and stress response proteins. The study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective potentials of aqueous extracts of Nerium oleander leaves against thioacetamide induced liver damage in rats. Densitometric analysis revealed that the protein bands of ceruloplasmin and transferrin in TAA treated group are less dense as compared to respective bands in control sample while the group received additional 7 days N. oleander treatment showed more or less similar band densities as compared to control sample. N. oleander extract also attempted to reverse or at least minimized the effect of TAA on protein fractions of molecular weight 38, 46 and 110 KDa. Elevated level of C-reactive protein was also observed in all experimental groups as compared to control. The results obtained in the above study suggested that N. oleander extract possesses a significant hepatoprotective activity against TAA induced hepatotoxicity. More research is required to derive an optional therapeutic dose.