Abstract

HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF RHYNCHOSIA BEDDOMEI BAKER AGAINST PARACETAMOL INDUCED TOXICITY IN RATS

*A. Rajani and A. Jaswanth

Abstract

The present study, the methanol extract of Rhynchosia beddomei Baker leaf was evaluated for their protective effects on paracetamol-induced liver damage in Wistar albino rats. Serum biochemical parameters viz. aspartate aminotranferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), bilirubin, cholesterol, albumin (ALB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triglycerides (TG); and liver biochemical parameters such as reduced glutathione (GSH) content and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were evaluated. Paracetamol (500mg/kg) induces hepatotoxicity and enhances the ALT, AST, ALP, liver weight and reduces total proteins. Treatment with Methanolic leaf extract of Rhynchosia beddomei (200 mg/kg &400 mg/kg) has brought back the altered levels of biochemical markers significantly to the near normal levels. The results were supported by histopathological studies of liver tissue. Phytochemical analysis of Rhynchosia beddomei Baker indicated the presence of alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides. The study concluded that, the hepatoprotective potential may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids.

Keywords: Rhynchosia beddomei Baker, Biochemical markers, Hepatoprotective & Hepatotoxicity, Paracetamol, Methanolic leaf extract.