Ameliorative effects of <em>Asparagus falcatus</em> L. and <em>Vetiveria</em> <em>zizanioides</em> (L.) Nash on carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress in mice

Abstract

The hepatoprotective and antioxidative effects of two aqueous plant extracts, <em>Asparagus falcatus </em>and <em>Vetiveria zizanioides,</em> were determined against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced oxidative stress in mice. Hepatotoxicity was induced by the administration of a single intraperitonial dose of CCl₄ (0.5 mL kg^-1 CCl₄ in olive oil) after a 16 hrs fast. Aqueous extracts of the tubers of <em>Asparagus </em>and root of <em>Vetiveria </em>(0.9 gm kg^-1) were used on pre and post-treatment basis. The ability of plant extracts to protect the liver against changes mediated by carbon tetrachloride confirms that plants possess anti-hepatotoxic properties against CCl₄induced liver damage. Both pre and post-treatment decreased the CCl₄ mediated increase in serum enzyme activities (ALT, AST, ALP) and increased the reduced glutathione concentration in the liver. Administration of <em>Vetiveria</em> alone improved the GSH status significantly. Glutathione reductase and glutathione <br /> S-transferase activities were increased significantly (<em>P </em>< 0.05) and lipid peroxidation and activity of glutathione peroxidase were reduced significantly in the plant extract treated groups compared to the CCl₄control group. Histopathological studies provided supportive evidence for the biochemical analysis. The magnitude of hepatoprotective properties varied between the two plant extracts but the hepatoprotection mediated by <em>Vetiveria </em>was more potent than that of <em>Asparagus</em>.