Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Acacia Catechu Wild in Paracetemol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats

Introduction: Acacia catechu is a deciduous, thorny tree which grows up to 12-15 meter in height. In Hindi is called as Khair and in kannada Kachu. It has been used as used for the treatment of inflammation, diarrhheoa, fever. Aims: to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract of acacia catechu in paracetemol induced liver damage in experimental animals, rats was studied. Methodology: The ethanolic extract of acacia catechu was studied for its hepatoprotective effect on paracetamol induced liver damage on Wistar albino rats. The degree of hepatoprotection was measured by biochemical (serum gultamic pyruvic transaminase, serum gultamic oxaloacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase) markers and histological changes. Silymarin was used as positive control. Results: Pretreatment with acacia extract significantly prevented the biochemical enzyme levels and histological changes induced by paracetamol in the liver. The effects of acacia catechu were comparable to that of the standard drug silymarin. Thus ethanol extract of acacia was found to exhibit marked hepatoprotective activity (P<0.05). Discussion and conclusion: These results indicate that acacia catechu could be useful in preventing chemically induced acute liver injury. Hence from this study it can be concluded that ethanol extract of acacia catechu possess significant hepatoprotective activity.