title: Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine Acanthaceae root extract.
abstract: Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine (syn. Asteracantha longifolia Nees, Acanthaceae) was widely used in the Indian systems of medicine for the treatment of various liver ailments. The hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of the roots was studied on CCl(4)-induced liver toxicity in rats. The activity was assessed by monitoring the various liver function tests, viz. alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein and total bilirubin. Furthermore, hepatic tissues were subjected to histopathological studies. The root extract was also studied for its in vitro antioxidant activity using ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods. The extract exhibited significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Environmental Toxicology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shanmugasundaram
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venkataraman
mesh_terms: D027901:Acanthaceae; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts