Hepatoprotective studies of Coccinia indica Linn. in carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic injury

Abstract

Cocciana indica Linn (Cucurbitaceae) is widely distributed throughout India. It was employed in ancient system of medicine as anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, digestant, liver tonic, and expectorant. Though it is traditionally used in jaundice and other hepatic manifestations, there are no reports on their validation and standardization for hepatoprotective activity. This study was undertaken to evaluate hepatoprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves and fruits of the plant against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatotoxicity in rats and mice. The extract of the plant material significantly increased the bromosulphthaline clearance and significantly reduced the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time. Furthermore, serum examination of treated animals revealed that the plant extract reduced the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. Morphological studies demonstrated the hepatoprotective activity of the extract by showing a decrease in liver weight. Free radical scavenging studies indicated an increase in glutathione concentration and reduced liver lipid peroxidase after treatment with the plant extract.

Keywords: Cocciana indica, cucurbitaceae, hepatoprotective, carbon tetrachloride, free radical scavenging

Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal Vol. 23 2005: 39-44