Calotropis procera latex affords protection against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
In the present study, latex of Calotropis procera possessing potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties was evaluated for its hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Subcutaneous injection of CCl(4,) administered twice a week, produced a marked elevation in the serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Histological analysis of the liver of these rats revealed marked necro-inflammatory changes that were associated with increase in the levels of TBARS, PGE(2) and catalase and decrease in the levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Daily oral administration of aqueous suspension of dried latex (DL) of Calotropis procera at 5, 50 and 100mg/kg doses produced a dose-dependent reduction in the serum levels of liver enzymes and inflammatory mediators and attenuated the necro-inflammatory changes in the liver. The DL treatment also normalized various biochemical parameters of oxidative stress. Our study shows that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of DL and silymarin were comparable and suggests that DL could be used as a hepatoprotective agent.
Padhy
B M
BM
Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
Srivastava
A
A
Kumar
V L
VL
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D031107:Calotropis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007840:Latex / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D007840:Latex; D020011:Protective Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione; D015232:Dinoprostone