Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of swertiamarin from Enicostemma axillare against D-galactosamine induced acute liver damage in rats.
BACKGROUND
The whole plant of Enicostemma axillare Raynal (Family: Gentianaceae) is used in variety of diseases in traditional Indian system of medicine including hepatic ailments.


OBJECTIVE
Swertiamarin isolated from Enicostemma axillare Raynal was evaluated for antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity.


METHODS
Swertiamarin was isolated from successive ethyl acetate extract of the plant Enicostemma axillare belongs to the family Gentianaceae. The concentration of swertiamarin was determined by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of swertiamarin (100 and 200mg/kg body weight) was carried out against d-Galactosamine (d-GalN) (200mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally i.p.) induced liver injury in rats.


RESULTS
Swertiamarin a secoiridoid glycoside was found to contain a major constituent of the extract. d-GalN caused significant hepatotoxicity by alteration of several hepatic parameters. It also caused significant lipid peroxidation and reduced the levels of antioxidant defense mechanisms. The treatment with swertiamarin at 100 and 200mg/kg body weight when administered orally for 8 days prior to d-GalN caused a significant restoration of all the altered biochemical parameters due to d-GalN towards the normal, indicating the potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective nature of swertiamarin.


CONCLUSIONS
Swertiamarin isolated from Enicostemma axillare possesses significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties against d-GalN induced hepatotoxicity given at 100 and 200mg/kg body weight orally for 8 days, which might be due to its in vitro antioxidant activity.
Jaishree
V
V
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, J. S. S. College of Pharmacy, Ootacamund 643 001, Tamil Nadu, India. jaishreek2@rediffmail.com
Badami
Shrishailappa
S
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005688:Galactosamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D029965:Gentianaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011753:Pyrones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000975:Antioxidants; D005960:Glucosides; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011753:Pyrones; C013270:swertiamarin; D005688:Galactosamine