title: Prevention of alcohol-carbon tetrachloride-induced signs of early hepatotoxicity in mice by Trianthema portulacastrum L.
abstract: The antihepatotoxic potential of an ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Trianthema portulacastrum L. (excluding the roots) was evaluated against alcohol-carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute liver damage in mice. The extract at a dose of 50,100 or 150 mg/kg was administered per os once daily for successive three days concomitant with alcohol-CCl(4) treatment. The substantially elevated serum enzymatic activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, sorbitol and glutamate dehydrogenase due to alcohol-CCl(4) treatment were dose-dependently restored towards normalization following the extract therapy. There was a marked inhibition of serum bilirubin und urea levels in the plant extract-treated groups which were otherwise drastically increased in alcohol-CCl(4) control animals. The extract also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde formation (evidence of lipid peroxidation) and depletion of reduced glutathione content in liver of mice intoxicated with alcohol-CCl(4) in a dose-responsive fashion. The results of this study clearly indicate that the plant possesses a potent hepatoprotective action against alcohol-CCl(4)-induced hepatocellular injury which corroborates its use in hepatic disorders as well as alcohol-evoked liver ailments in traditional oriental medicine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Calcutta - 700 032, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bishayee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chatterjee