title: Hepatoprotective potential of Clitoria ternatea leaf extract against paracetamol induced damage in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clitoria ternatea, a medicinal herb native to tropical equatorial Asia, is commonly used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of C. ternatea against experimentally induced liver injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antioxidant property of methanolic extract (ME) of C. ternatea leaf was investigated by employing an established in vitro antioxidant assay. The hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol-induced liver toxicity in mice of ME of C. ternatea leaf was also studied. Activity was measured by monitoring the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and billirubin along with histopathological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount of total phenolics and flavonoids were estimated to be 358.99 ± 6.21 mg/g gallic acid equivalent and 123.75 ± 2.84 mg/g catechin equivalent, respectively. The antioxidant activity of C. ternatea leaf extract was 67.85% at a concentration of 1 mg/mL and was also concentration dependant, with an IC(50) value of 420.00 µg/mL. The results of the paracetamol-induced liver toxicity experiments showed that mice treated with the ME of C. ternatea leaf (200 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in ALT, AST, and bilirubin levels, which were all elevated in the paracetamol group (p < 0.01). C. ternatea leaf extract therapy also protective effects against histopathological alterations. Histological studies supported the biochemical findings and a maximum improvement in the histoarchitecture was seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of C. ternatea leaf extract against the model hepatotoxicant paracetamol. The hepatoprotective action is likely related to its potent antioxidative activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, AIMST University, Jalan Bedong-Semeling, Batu 3½, Bukit Air Nasi, Bedong, 08100 Kedah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kuppan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nithianantham
authors.forename: Murugesan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shyamala
authors.forename: Yeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lachimanan Yoga
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Latha
authors.forename: Subramanion L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jothy
authors.forename: Sreenivasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasidharan
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D031292:Clitoria / Q000737:chemistry*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012015:Reference Standards
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene; D000082:Acetaminophen; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D001663:Bilirubin