Abstract

HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF AERIAL PART OF GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE AGAINST CCL4 AND PARACETAMOL INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS

T. Venkatakishore*, Dr. M. Prasad Rao, B. Thulasi, P. Kanchana Durga, B. Harikrishna and S. Sai Prasanth

ABSTRACT

Gymnema Sylvestre is a valuable herb belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae and widely distributed in world. It is popularly known as “Gurmar” and various parts of the plant are used in the treatment of skin problem, bronchitis, antifungal, eye-disease, cancer, diabetes, digestive, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, laxative, stimulant, stomachic, uterine tonic and urinogenital infection etc. Here in this study an attempt was made to evaluate the Hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of aerial part of Gymnema Sylvestre (200, 400mg/kg). Hepatotoxicity was induced in albino rats using Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 - 0.5ml/kg in1:1 ratio with Olive oil), Paracetamol (1g/kg, i.p) and Silymarin (50mg/kg) was taken as the Standard Drug. The biological markers like Aspartate Transaminase, Alanine Transaminase, Alkaline Phosphatase, Total bilirubin and Total Protein are monitored for changes caused due to CCl4 and Paracetamol induced Hepatotoxicity. It was observed that the aerial part extract of Gymnema Sylvestre decreased the elevated levels of the hepatic enzymes significantly when compared to the standard (p<0.001). Thus the results suggest that the ethanolic extract of aerial part of Gymnema Sylvestre is a reliable Hepatoprotective agent.

Keywords: Hepatoprotective activity, Silymarin, CCL4, Paracetamol, Gymnema Sylvestre, Ethanolic extract.