Antioxidant Potential of the Whole Plant Extract of Mollugo Pentaphylla Linn. on Ethanol Induced Liver Damage

The potential antioxidant effect ethanol induced liver damage was investigated using crude methanolic extract of the whole plant of Mollugo pentaphylla Linn. The standard drug used was ascorbic acid mg / kg/day. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels were measured as antioxidant indicators. There was a significant reduction in the elevated serum enzymes, triglycerides and total cholesterol levels. The histopathologial studies revealed that the liver cells undergoing hydrobic and fatty changes indicating hepato cellular damage in the case of ethanol administration while extract treated animals showed mostly normal hepatocytes and mild hydrobic changes. Hence the study concluded that the plant exhibits antioxidant property. INTRODUCTION: The paradox of aerobic life is that the vital air is also a lethal toxin. The cost of fuelefficient aerobic catabolism is oxidative damage to the bio molecules which is caused by the over production of free radicals / reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to ‘oxidative stress’ . Antioxidants are compounds that can delay or prevent cellular oxidation damage caused by free radicals. They have the ability to transform ROS into stable and harmless compounds or by scavenging ROS with a redox based mechanism . The medicinal value of plants have assumed an important dimension in the past few decades owing largely due to the discovery as a rich source of antioxidants that combat oxidative stress through their redox active secondary metabolites . In the present study, Mollugo pentaphylla Linn commonly known as Itch flower (Syn. Mollugo stricta). It is belongs to the family, Aizoaceae. It has immense medicinal value for curing various ailments which is extensively used in tribal and ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as fever, rheumatism, skin diseases . We therefore, examined the effect of antioxidant potential of the plant extract. Materials Plant material and extraction: The plant material was collected and authenticated by Dr. V. Chelladurai, Department of Botany, Central Siddha Research Unit, Tirunelveli. Shade dried whole plant was extracted with methanol for 48 hrs by using soxhlet apparatus. The extract was filtered and concentrated to dry mass by using vacuum distillation. Animals: Wistar albino rats of either sex (150-200 gms) were obtained from king Institute, Chennai. They were kept under standard laboratory conditions and were fed with commercial rat pellets and drinking water ad