Hepatoprotective Activity Of Leaf- Extract Of Calotropis Procera Against Acetaminophen- And Hepatitis Virus- Induced Liver Damage In Rats

Abstract

Ethanolic leaf-extract of Calotropis procera (CL) was tested for antioxidant properties and hepatoprotective activities (acetaminophen and hepatitis virus induced hepatotoxicity) in albino rats. The antioxidative properties gave total phenolic content (43.79mg/g gallic acid), reducing property (16.67%) and free radical scavenging activity (81.6%). Oral administration of acetaminophen (2g/Kg rat) or intraperitonial administration of 2ml of hepatitis infected serum to the animals caused statistically significant (P<0.05) increases in the serum activities of alanine aminotransferases (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatases (ALP) and bilirubin while there were decreases in the total protein concentration as compared to control. On the other hand there were significant decreases in the activities of these enzymes in the liver homogenate as compared to the control. Oral administration of CL (200- 400mg/kg) brought back altered biochemical markers to the near normal level in a dose dependent manner. CL produced a significant dose-dependent preventive effect on both the acetaminophen- and hepatitis virus -induced
hepatotoxicity in rats.