Hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of <i>Suaeda maritima </i>(L.) Dumort<i> </i>ethanolic extract on concanavalin-A induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Abstract

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of <i style="">Suaeda maritima </i>(L.) Dumort on concanavalin-A induced stress in Wistar albino rats have been reported. Rats were administered with ethanolic extract of <i>Suaeda maritima</i> at the concentration of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg of body wt. for 9 days and concanavalin-A was administrated (iv) 12 mg/kg on 9^th day. Rats in concanavalin-A administered group showed elevated levels of AST, ALT, ALP and bilurubin. Pretreatment of rats with ethanolic extract (300 mg/kg) significantly reduced these serum parameters compared to concavalin-A administered group. Histopathological examination of liver sections showed that, normal liver architecture was disturbed by hepatotoxin intoxication. The extract treated group and silymarin treated group retained the normal cell architecture, although less visible changes were observed. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of triterpenioids and may be responsible for the hepatoprotective activity. The LD₅₀ was calculated as 3 g/kg of the body weight. IC₅₀ values of hydroxyl (52.21±1.32<img src='/image/spc_char/micro.gif' border=0>g/ml) and nitric oxide radicals (09.14±0.94 <img src='/image/spc_char/micro.gif' border=0>g/ml) scavenging results showed comparable activity with vitamin-C. Results of this study may be useful for the development of herbal medicine from <i style="">Suaeda maritima </i>for the treatment of hepatitis.