In the present study, Aqueous extract of Luffa echinata Roxb. (100, 200 & 300 mg/kg, P.O.) was used to screen the hepatoprotective activity. Hepatotoxicity was induced in experimental animals by administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) (2.5 ml/kg, P.O.), silymarin (50 mg/kg, P.O.) was used as standard. Biochemical parameters like Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT) (Reitman & Frankel, 1957), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin and total protein were measured. Peroxidative hepatic damage in rat was studied by assessing parameters such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) in liver. The effect of co-administration of luffa echinata on above parameters and histopathological findings of liver in experimental animals was studied. CCL4 administration in rats elevated the levels of AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin. Oral administration of aqueous extract significantly (P<0.001) prevented this increase. The activity of antioxidant enzyme in carbon tetrachloride CCL4-treated group was decreased and these enzyme level was significantly (P<0.001) increased in Luffa echinata treated groups. Histopathological studies revealed that the concurrent administration of CCL4 with the extract exhibited protection of the liver tissue, which further evidenced above results. The study confirmed the hepatoprotective activity of Luffa echinata, which may be attributed to its antioxidant activity.
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