HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF OCIMUMCANUM LEAVES AGAINST CCL4– INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN RATS

*Roja P. and Maheshwari Reddy B.

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of Ocimumcanumleaves against CCl4 – induced liver damage in rats. Hepatic damage was induced by CCl4. Thereafter, the levels of some serum biochemical parameters such as alanine trasaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkalinephosphatase (ALP), albumin, total bilirubin (TBIL) and total protein (TP) were investigated. The activities of ALP, AST, ALT and histological changes in the liver of rats were also determined. Silymarin was used as the standard hepatoprotectivedrug. The pre – treatment of rats with aqueous extract of O. canum leaves caused a significant increase in theserum levels of TP and albumin. There was a significant decrease in the serum levels of ALP, AST, ALT and TBIL with acorresponding increase in the activities of ALP, AST and ALT in the liver of extract treated rats. The hepatoprotection was confirmed by histological examinations of liver sections of normal and treated rats. Furthermore, rats intoxicated with Ccl4 alone had their serum ALP, AST, ALT and TBIL levels significantly increased, while TP and albumin concentrationsdecreased when compared with the normal rats. The aqueous extract of Ocimum canum leaves at doses of 250and 500 mg /kg p.o. have significant hepatoprotective ability against – CCl4 induced hepatic damage in rats.

Keywords: Ocimum canum, Hepatoprotective Activi, CCl4, Biochemical Parameters.