Protective effects of Indigofera tinctoria L. against D-Galactosamine and carbon tetrachloride challenge on 'in situ' perfused rat liver.

The effect of pre-treatment with Indigofera tinctoria (IT) extract against the toxicity of D-Galactosamine (D-GalN) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) during 'in situ' perfusion of the liver for 2 hr was studied in rats. Release of LDH and levels of urea in the liver effluent perfusate, was studied and the rate of bile flow was monitored. Perfusion with D-Galactosamine (5 mM) or carbon tetrachloride (0.5 mM) resulted in increased LDH leakage, decreased urea levels in the liver effluent and reduction in bile flow. IT pretreatment (500 mg/kg body weight) in vivo ameliorated D-GalN and CCl4 induced adverse changes towards near normalcy and thereby indicates its hepatoprotective effects in rats.

Effect of Indigofera tinctoria Linn on liver antioxidant defense system during D-galactosamine/endotoxin-induced acute hepatitis in rodents.

Effects of pre-treatment with the alcoholic extract of I. tinctoria (500 mg/kg body wt/day, p.o. for 21 days) on liver antioxidant defense system during acute hepatitis induced by D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/endotoxin (LPS extracted by phenol water method from E. coli serotype 0111.B4; 300 mg and 30 micrograms/kg body wt/day, i.p., 18 hr before the assay) were investigated on the activities of enzymic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase, and levels of total reduced glutathione in the liver of normal and experimental groups of male albino rats. Since lipid peroxidation and associated membrane damage is a key feature of D-galN/LPS-induced liver injury, the levels of lipid peroxides, was estimated and used as an index of oxidative stress. D-GalN/endotoxin-induced hepatic damage was manifested by a significant decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, decreased glutathione levels and increased levels of lipid peroxides. I. tinctoria pre-treated rats showed considerable protection against D-galN/endotoxin, induced oxidative stress as evidenced by a significant increase in the activities of all the antioxidant enzymes studied and significant decrease in the levels of lipid peroxides. Results indicate that pretreatment with I. tinctoria extract in rats is very effective in reducing D-GalN/endotoxin-induced oxidative stress suggesting an antioxidant effect.