ABSTRACT
The plant phenolic compounds such as flavonoids have an important role in the treatment of many diseases and some of them have a potent hepatoprotective effect. This study was aimed to evaluate the anti oxidant and hepatoprotective activity of butanolic extract of Clytostoma binatum on thioacetamide induced hepatic damage in rats. Male Sprague -Dawley rats [200-250 gm] were divided into 5 groups. The first group was designated as a control group [group 1]. The second group [group2] was received Clytostoma binatum extract at a dose of 0.2 gm/kg body weight, given orally daily for one month. The third group [group3] was intraperitoneal injected with thioacetamide at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight twice in week for one month to induce liver fibrosis. The fourth group [group 4]; was administrated orally with the butanol extract of Clytostoma binatum at a dose of 0.2 gm/kg body weight, given pre-treatment with thioacetamide for one month. The fifth group [group] received Clytostoma binatum extract [0.2 gm/kg body weight] post- treatment with thioacetamide for one month. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the levels of reduced glutathione, catalase, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide. The degree of hepatoprotection was assessed by estimating levels of biochemical markers including AST and ALT activities as well as the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase and hydroxy proline content. The treatment with extract [Clytostoma binatum] exhibited improvement in liver enzymes and antioxidant enzymes [reduced glutathion and catalase] as well as glucose-6-phosphatase and reduce lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, hydroxyproline and collagen. Data on the biochemical parameters and histopathological examination of rat liver sections revealed hepatoprotective potential of Clytostoma binatum pre- and post-treatment with thioacetamide which induced hepatic damage in rats. Our results suggested that butanolic extract of Clytostoma binatum possesses hepatoprotective activity against thioacetamide induced hepatic damage. The protective effect of this extract can be due to the presence of flavonoids and iridoids compounds and their antioxidant effect