ABSTRACT
The objective of present study was to explore the hepatoprotective and antioxidant profile of Citrullus colocynthis fruits. Hepatoprotective profile of methanolic extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruits [MECCF] was investigated on rats, which were made hepatotoxic using paracetamol. The antioxidant profile of MECCF was evaluated by conducting Catalase, Super oxide Dismutase, Lipid Peroxidation and Diphenyl Picryl Hydrazyl tests. During hepatoprotective investigation, the Paracetamol treated group II showed significant increase in total bilirubin [TB], serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase [SGOT], serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] level. The results so obtained showed that pretreatment of rats with MECCF 300mg/kg p.o. decreases the elevated TB, SGOT, SGPT and ALP serum levels. Also, MECCF inhibitory profile was found comparable with toxicant group [Paracetamol 2g/kg, p.o.]. The present study concludes that MECCF fruit possess significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity
ABSTRACT
The leaves of Blumea balsamifera are used as a folk medicine in kidney stone diseases in South-East Asia. Phytochemical investigation revealed leaves contained a number of flavonoids. In view of these, the present work was aimed to quantify and preliminary pharmacokinetic investigation of five flavonoids viz. dihydroquercetin-7,4'-dimethyl ether [I], dihydroquercetin-4'-methyl ether [II], 5,7,3',5'-tetrahydroxyflavanone [III], blumeatin [IV] and quercetin [V] in rat plasma following oral administration [0.5g/Kg] of B. balsamifera leaf extract in rats. Quantification was achieved by using a validated, reproducible high-performance liquid chromatographic method. The mean recoveries of I, II, III, IV and V were 90.6, 93.4, 93.5, 91.2 and 90.3% respectively. The limit of quantification was 25 ng/mL for I and IV, 10 ng/mL for II and III and 100 ng/mL for V respectively. The within day and day-to-day precision for all the compounds were < 10%. The validated HPLC method herein was applied for pharmacokinetic studies and the main pharmacokinetic parameters were: t1/2 [hr] 5.8, 4.3, 2.9, 5.7 and 7.3, C[max] [ng/mL] 594.9, 1542.9 1659.9, 208.9 and 3040.4; T[max] [hr] 4.7, 1.0, 1.0, 3.5 and 2.3; AUC0-infinity [ng hr/mL] 5040, 5893, 9260, 1064 and 27233 for I, II, III, IV and V respectively. The developed method was suitable for pharmacokinetic studies and this preliminary study also revealed significant absorption after oral dosing in rats