RESUMO
This Investigation was undertaken to evaluate ethanolic extract of C.macleodii leaves for possible antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated by four established, in vitro methods viz. 1,1-diphenyl-2picryl hydrazyl [DPPH] radical scavenging method, nitric oxide [NO] radical scavenging method, iron chelation method and reducing power method. The extract demonstrated a significant dose dependent antioxidant activity comparable with ascorbic acid. The extract was also evaluated for hepatoprotective activity by carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]] induced liver damage model in rats. CCl[4] produced a significant increase in levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [GPT], serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase [GOT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] and total bilirubin. Pretreatment of the rats with ethanolic extract of c. macleodii [100, 200 and 400 mg/kg po] inhibited the increase in levels of GPT, GOT, ALP and Total bilirubin and the inhibition was comparable with Silymarin [100mg/kg po]. The present study revealed that C. macleodii leaves have significant radical scavenging and hepatoprotective activities