Effect of clausena dent at a [WILLD.] M. Roem. against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats

ABSTRACT

Ethanol extract of Clausena dentata [Willd.] M. Roem [Rutaceae] was evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in rats. The plant extract [250 mg/kg, p.o.] showed a remarkable hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity as judged from the serum markers for liver damage. Acetaminophen induced a signi-ficant rise in aspartate amino transferase [AST], alanine amino transferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], total bilirubin, gamma glutamate transpeptidase [GGTP] and decrease in total protein. Treatment of rats with ethanol extract [250 mg/kg] significantly [P < 0.001] altered serum marker enzymes levels to near normal against acetaminophen treated rats. The activity of the extract was comparable to the standard drug, silymarin [50 mg/kg, p.o.]. Histopathological changes of liver sample were compared with respective control. Results indicate that Clausena dentata possesses hepatoprotective effect on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats