Hepatoprotective effect of ethanol extract from leaves of Phyllanthus emblica in rats

In this study, phytochemical extraction was carried out on the leaves of Phyllanthus emblica using ethanol as the organic solvent. The antioxidant activity of ethanol extract from Phyllanthus emblica was evaluated by various biochemical marker parameters, including super oxide dismutase [SOD - anion radical scavenging], catalase [CAT - hydrogen peroxide scavenging], glutathione peroxidase [GPX], glutathione reductase [GRD - reducing power], glutathione transferase [GTS] and thio-barbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] measurement. Hepato cellular damage was induced by intraperitoneal administration of CCl[4] in male albino Sprague-Dawley strain rats. The reduced levels of SOD, CAT, GPX and GRD with CCl[4] treated animals attain normal level, after administration of ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus emblica. However, the activity of GTS was significantly higher in CCl[4] treated animals, which were brought down towards normal level in herb treated rats. The increased concentration of TBARS with CCl[4] treated rats attains normal level after administration of ethanolic extract of the same plant. An antioxidant property appears to be predominantly responsible for this hepato-protective action of the drug