Hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of stem bark of Berberis aristata against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity on albino wistar rats

Berberis aristata DC (Berberidaceae) is used in Indian traditional medicine. The hepatoprotective activity of Berberis aristata stem bark suspension was studied using CCl4 overdose induced liver damage in rats. The activity was assessed by monitoring various liver functions testing enzymes viz, Serum Glutamate Pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase (SGOT), Serum Alkaline Phosphates (SALP) and total and direct bilirubin in blood serum. When the vehicle treated group l was compared with control group 2 (treated with CCL4), there was a significant rise in the level of serum marker enzyme ALP, but no significant difference observed between the vehicle treated group and standard drug treated group. Increased levels of serum SGOT, SGPT, ALP and Bilirubin were observed in CCL4 treated control group. But in different dose levels of EEBA (100 & 300 mg/kg of body weight) treated groups, a significant (p<0.001) reduction of serum SGOT (94.5 ± 3.09, 90.20±0.04), SGPT (45.67 ± 1.58, 43.65 ± 0.08), ALP (61.23 ± 1.59, 58.8 ± 3.25) and bilirubin (total & direct 1.30±0.02, 1.10 ± 0.01) & (0.81±0.02, 0.53±0.03) were observed.