Lead Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Swiss Albino Mice : the Protective Potential of the Hydromethanolic Extract of Withania Somnifera

The study was planned to evaluate the efficacy of Withania somnifera (WS) root extract in preventing lead induced oxidative stress in liver tissue of mice. Mice randomly divided into 6 groups were treated with and without lead nitrate and WS alone or in combination for 42 days. The oxidative stress was measured by LPO level, reduced glutathione content, total protein level and by enzymatic activities of SOD, CAT, GSH and GST in liver tissue homogenate. These biochemical observations were supplemented by histopathology/histological examinations of liver sections. Lead nitrate enhanced lipid peroxidation with concomitant reduction in SOD, CAT, GST, GSH and total protein content. In addition, lead nitrate produced hepatic histopathology evidenced by histological alterations in liver histology. Treatment of mice with WS resulted in marked improvement in most of the studied parameters. On the basis of above results it can be hypothesized that WS, a natural product can protect lead nitrate mediated hepatic toxicity.