title: Methanol extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves exerted antioxidant and liver protective activity in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melastoma malabathricum L. (Melastomaceae) is a small shrub with various medicinal uses. The present study was carried out to determine the hepatoprotective activity of methanol extract of M. malabathricum leaves (MEMM) against the paracetamol-induced liver toxicity in rats model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The respective chemicals and herbal solutions (10% DMSO, 200 mg/kg silymarin or MEMM (50, 250 and 500 mg/kg)) were administered orally to rats once everyday for 7 days followed by the hepatotoxicity assay. The blood samples and livers were collected and subjected to biochemical and microscopical analysis. Prior to the hepatoprotective study, MEMM was subjected to determination of the total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant properties using several standard assays (e.g. 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl- and superoxide anion- radical scavenging assay, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MEMM exerted significant (p < 0.05) and high antioxidant activity in which high TPC was recorded; while in the hepatotoxicity study, the extract exhibited significant hepatoprotective effects against the paracetamol-induced hepatotoxic model. The results observed for serum liver enzymes (ALT, ALP and AST) as well as the microscopic observations and microscopic scoring supported the hepatoprotective potential of MEMM. The phytochemical and HPLC analysis of MEMM demonstrated the presence of flavonoids as its major constituents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MEMM-induced hepatoprotective activity could be allied partly to its antioxidant activity and the presence of flavonoids.
authors.forename: Siti Syariah
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mamat
authors.forename: Mohamad Fauzi Fahmi
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kamarolzaman
authors.forename: Farhana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yahya
authors.forename: Nur Diyana
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.forename: Muhammad Syahmi
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shahril
authors.forename: Krystal Feredoline
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Jakius
authors.forename: Norhafizah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohtarrudin
authors.forename: Siew Mooi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.forename: Deny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Susanti
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taher
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. dr_zaz@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zainul Amiruddin
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Zakaria
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035322:Melastomataceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011208:Powders / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004798:Enzymes; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011208:Powders; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000432:Methanol