title: Free radical scavenging and hepatoprotective potential of Ficus microcarpa L. fil. bark extracts.
abstract: Successive extracts of Ficus microcarpa L. fil. bark (FMB) were tested for antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride- and paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicities in rats. The ethyl acetate extract of FMB exhibited significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity by reducing carbon tetrachloride- and paracetamol-induced changes in biochemical parameters as evidenced by enzymatic and histological examination. Pretreatment with ethyl acetate extract of FMB significantly shortened the duration of pentobarbitone-induced necrosis in mice, indicating its hepatoprotective potential. Phytochemical studies confirmed the presence of the phenolic compound, catechin, in FMB, which may interfere with free-radical formation and may account for its significant hepatoprotective effects. The present study thus provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of this plant in the management of liver disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, Dhule, India. kalaskar.mohan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mohan G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kalaskar
authors.forename: Sanjay J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Surana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000633:toxicity; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D010424:Pentobarbital