Comparative Study of the Hepatoprotective Activities of Vitex Negundo Linn. and Moringa Oleifera Lam. in Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Experimental Animals

Aims: To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Vitex negundo Linn. and Moringa oleifera Lam. In paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: Liver damage was induced in 42 albino rats by paracetamol (1 g/kg P.O.) once daily for a period of 7 days. Silymarin was taken as the standard drug in a dose of 25 mg/kg P.O. Albino Wistar rats (150-200 g) were divided into groups containing 6 rats each. The various doses of Vitex negundo (100 and 300 mg/kg/day) and Moringa oleifera (200 and 800 mg/kg/day) along with Silymarin were adminstered for a period of 14 days. All the animals except the control group received paracetamol for the last 7 days. The animals were sacrificed on the 14 day and blood collected by cardiac puncture. The serum was used for estimation of liver enzymes, protein and bilirubin. These were supplemented by pentobarbitone induced sleeping time and liver histopathology. Statistical analysis used: Data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnet‟s T test.Results: Both Vitex negundo and Moringa oleifera Lam. resulted in statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in liver enzymes and proteins in a dose dependent manner but Moringa oleifera showed greater activity. Pentobarbitone sleeping time and liver histopathology yielded consistent results. Conclusion: Ethanolic extracts of Vitex negundo and Moringa oleifera shows hepatoprotection but Moringa oleifera shows more activity.