title: Hepatoprotective role of Abelmoschus esculentus (Linn.) Moench., on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic liver disease has become a global health problem. The research for prominent herbal agents for the management of liver diseases is widely increased.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The root of Abelmoschus esculentus (Linn.) Moench., (Malvaceae) has been used as a remedy for liver disorders. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of the ethanol extract of A. esculentus root.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antioxidant effect was assessed using DPPH and hydroxy radical scavenging assays. The hepatoprotective effect of the extract was evaluated using CCl₄ intoxicated HepG₂ cell line and Wistar rats by estimating the levels of hepatic and antioxidant markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract of A. esculentus showed IC₅₀ values of 270.99 and 532.86 µg/mL for DPPH and hydroxy radical scavenging assays, respectively. The incubation of HepG2 cells with CCl₄ drastically decreased the cell viability and increased the leakage of transaminases. Pre-treatment with the extract significantly restored the cell death by 31.25 and 39.04% at 200 and 400 µg/mL concentrations, respectively. The reduction of ALT leakage by the treatment was 18.62, 38.59 and 52.15% compared to the CCl₄ treated cells at 100, 200 and 400 µg/mL, respectively. In in-vivo experiments also the treatment reduced the levels of transaminases, ALP, MDA, total bilirubin and hepatic TNFα levels as well as increased the antioxidant levels in a dose dependent manner. Histological observations of liver sections showed reduction in steatosis, necrosis and inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results substantiated the hepatoprotective activity of A. esculentus through its antioxidant capacity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Ethnopharmacology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Subramanian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saravanan
authors.forename: Perumal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pandikumar
authors.forename: Natesan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pazhanivel
authors.forename: Michael Gabriel
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Paulraj
authors.forename: Savarimuthu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ignacimuthu
mesh_terms: D028483:Abelmoschus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride