Hepatoprotective Activity of Cucumis trigonus Roxb. Fruit Against CCl4 Induced Hepatic Damage in Rats

In India, a number of medicinal plants and their formulations are used to cure hepatic disorders in traditional systems of medicine. No systemic study has been done on protective effect of Cucumis trigonus Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae) to treat hepatic diseases. Protective action of C. trigonus fruit extracts was evaluated in this study in animal model of hepatotoxicity, which was induced by carbon tetrachloride. Forty two healthy female albino Wistar rats weighing between 180 and 200 g were divided in to seven groups of 6. Group 1 was normal control group; Group 2, the hepatotoxic group was given CCl4; Group 3 was administered standard drug (Liv-52); Groups 4-7 received pet. ether, chloroform, alcohol and aqueous fruit extract (300 mg/kg) with CCl4. The parameters studied were alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin activities. The hepatoprotective activity was also supported by histopathological studies of liver tissue. Results of the biochemical studies of blood samples of CCl4 treated animals showed significant increase in the levels of serum enzyme activities, reflecting the liver injury caused by CCl4. Whereas blood samples from the animals treated with chloroform and aqueous fruit extracts showed significant and alcohol extract showed highly significant decrease in the levels of serum markers, indicating the protection of hepatic cells. The results revealed that alcoholic fruit extract of Cucumis trigonus could afford highly significant protection against CCl4 induced hepatocellular injury.