EVALUATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CROTALARIA PALLIDA IN PARACETAMOL INDUCED TOXICITY

Asif Rasheed*, Aamir Khan Yusuf Khan, Qazi Syed Anas Arifi, Arfia Afroze, Mohammed Altaf, Umaima Junaidi and Mirza Fasahat Baig

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to evaluate the possible protective effect of ethanolic extract of Crotalaria pallida Linn (EECP) against paracetamol induced hepatoxicity in animals. The detailed preliminary phytochemical investigations rationalized its use as a drug of therapeutic importance. The ethanolic extract of the plant has phytoconstituents like flavonoids, terpenoids, sterods, alkaloids, saponins and tannins. The hepatoprotective effect was assessed using a battery of biochemical and histopathological tests. SGOT, SGPT, ALP, LDH, ACP were some of the biochemical tests done. In vivo tests for antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GSH, LPO) were conducted on albino mice and wistar rats. Ethanolic extract has hepatoprotective effects against liver toxicity induced by paracetamol as proven by macroscopical, microscopical, and biochemical analyses. The effects of EECP are comparable to that of Silymarin, the standard hepatoprotective drug. Accordingly, EECP could be used as an effective herbal product for the prevention of chemical-induced hepatic damage. Our results demonstrated that the progression of paracetamol-induced liver cirrhosis could be prevented or reduced using the ethanol extract of Crotalaria pallida The plant extract exerted its hepatoprotective effect by preventing the harmful cascade of events indused. In conclusion, we can say that Crotalaria pallida has the ability to protect the liver from the damaging effects of paracetamol in toxic doses and stimulation of endogenous anti-oxidant defense system.

Keywords: Hepatoprotective Activity, Ethanolic Extract, Crotalaria Pallida, Paracetamol.