Abstract

HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF FICUS CARICA LINN STEMS EXTRACT AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE LIVER DAMAGE IN WISTAR RATS.

Anamika Tripathi, Anil K. Yadav*, Pushpesh K. Mishra and Chandana V. Rao

ABSTRACT

The ethanolic extract of the stem of Ficus carica linn. (Moraceae) was evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in wistar rats with liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride. The extract at an oral dose of 500 mg/kg exhibited a significant protective effect by lowering the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total serum bilirubin and malondialdehyde equivalent, an index of lipid peroxidation of the liver. These biochemical observations were supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections. The activity of extract was also comparable to that of silymarin, a known hepatoprotective.

Keywords: Ficus carica linn, Stems, Hepatoprotective; Carbon tetrachloride.