Abstract

BIOCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS IN MICE ASSOCIATED WITH EUPATORIUM ADENOPHORUM (STICKY SNAKEROOT) INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY

*Dr. Damodar Singh

ABSTRACT

The leaves of Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng were powdered and extracted with methanol. An acute oral toxicity study was conducted in male Swiss albino mice and a LD50 of 3501 mg/kg was obtained during 14 days observation period. Twenty Swiss albino mice (male) randomly divided into four groups were administered orally with vehicle (5% tween 80), 1/20th (i.e. 175 mg/kg), 1/10th (i.e. 350 mg/kg) and 1/5th (i.e. 750 mg/kg) LD50 doses of methanolic leaf extract of E. adenophorum Spreng; respectively for a period of 30 days. Treatment of the mice with methanolic extract of E. adenophorum at the dose level of 750 mg/kg (i.e. 1/5th LD50) elicited hepatotoxicity and the animals had yellow discoloration of liver, subcutaneous tissue and musculature indicating jaundice. The sera samples revealed marked increase in bilirubin levels and activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Histopathological examination of the livers of the group IV animals had focal areas of necrosis and bile duct proliferation. Elevation in plasma bilirubin concomitant with alterations in enzyme profile and histopathological lesions are consistent with liver injury and cholestasis

Keywords: Eupatorium adenophorum; hepatotoxicity; bilirubin; mice.