Effect of ethanol extract of flowers of Vitex Trifolia Linn. on CCL[4] induced hepatic injury in rats

ABSTRACT

Hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of flowers of Vitex trifolia [Verbenaceae] was studied against CCl[4] induced hepatic injury in albino rats. The plant extract [EVT] at the dose of 200 mg/kg, p.o. showed a remarkable hepatoprotective activity. CCl[4] induced a significant rise in serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT], serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase [SGOT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], total bilirubin and gamma glutamate transpeptidase [GGTP]. Treatment of rats with EVT significantly [P<0.001] altered serum biomarker enzyme levels to near normal against CCl[4] treated rats. The activity of the extract was comparable to the standard drug, silymarin [100 mg/kg, p.o.]. Histopathological observations also revealed that treatment with EVT protected the animals from CCl[4] induced liver damage. The results indicate that the flowers of V. trifolia possess hepatoprotective activity on CCl[4] induced hepatic injury in rats