Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of flowers of Nerium oleander against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of methanolic flower extract of Nerium oleander against CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.


METHODS
In vitro antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of flowers of Nerium oleander (MENO-F) was evaluated by various assays, including reducing power, lipid peroxidation, DPPH, ABTS, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radicals and metal chelation. The hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant activity of MENO-F were evaluated against CCl(4)-induced hepatic damage in rats. The MENO-F at dose of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg were administered orally once daily for seven days. Serum enzymatic levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin were estimated along with estimation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver tissues. Further histopathological examination of the liver sections was carried out to support the induction of hepatotoxicity and hepatoprotective efficacy.


RESULTS
The extract showed potent activities on reducing power, lipid peroxide, DPPH, ABTS, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical and metal chelation. The substantially elevated serum enzymatic levels of AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin were found to be restored towards normalization significantly by the MENO-F in a dose dependent manner with maximum hepatoprotection at 400 mg/kg dose level. The histopathological observations supported the biochemical evidences of hepatoprotection. Elevated level of SOD and decreased level of MDA further strengthen the hepatoprotective observations.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study strongly reveal that MENO-F has potent antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective activity against CCl(4)-induced hepatic damage in experimental animals.
Pharmacology & Toxicology Research Lab, Department of Pharmacology, ASBASJSM College of Pharmacy, Bela, Punjab, India.
Kumar Gaurav
KG
Singhal
Ghanshyam Das
GD
Gupta
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000378:metabolism; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D035264:Flowers; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D000432:Methanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D030007:Nerium; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002614:Chelating Agents; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C002502:2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000432:Methanol