Original Articles: 2014 Vol: 6 Issue: 2
Hepatoprotective activity of herbal preparation (HP-4) against carbontetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in mice
Abstract
Oxidative stress is a condition resulting due to increased generation of free radicals and decrease in antioxidant levels. Several diseases such as liver diseases are caused due to free radicals formation in the body. Carbontetrachloride or CCl4 is a potent hepatotoxicant. It is metabolized in the liver to generate free radicals, which react with cellular lipids and proteins, eventually leading to cell death. Herbal Preparation or HP-4 is a combination of 80% alcoholic extract of leaves of Aloe vera, Bacopa monniera, Moringa oleifera and rhizome of Zingiber officinale. The hepatoprotective role of HP-4 is compared to standard drug Silymarin in CCl4 model of hepatotoxicity in mice. Control group or Group I fed on normal saline p.o. for 7 days. Toxicant or Group II injected with CCl4 diluted with paraffin (1:1) on first day of dosage 1.5 ml/kg b.w. i.p. Group III received 50mg/kg Silymarin p.o. for 7 days and single similar dose of CCl4 on day 1 as in Group II. Group IV and V fed with HP-4 of dosages 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg p.o.for 7 days and single similar dose of CCl4 on day 1 as in Group II. Serum and liver homogenate derived from mice was utilized for biochemical studies. A part of liver was preserved for histopathological studies which provide a direct means to ascertain HP-4 efficacy. It is concluded that HP-4 a polyherbal formulation exhibits synergistic action of phytochemicals alone and in combination to exhibit hepatoprotective action, which is evidenced by biochemical and histopathological studies.