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Abstract
The flower heads of Sphaeranthus indicus Linn (Asteraceae) a traditional Indian medicinal plant is commonly used to nourish and improve the liver conditions. This study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of aqueous (AQS) and methanolic (MES) extract of flower heads of Sphaeranthus indicus on Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced heptotoxicity in rat's in-vivo. Activities of liver marker enzymes ,glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) bilirubin and total protein at an oral dose of MES (300mg/kg) showed a significant hepatoprotective effect in comparison with the same dose of aqueous extract. This fact was also confirmed by studying the liver histopathology of treated animals. As Regards the antioxidant activity, MES exhibited a significant effect showing increasing levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxides (GPX) by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.
Keywords: Acetaminophen, antioxidant activities, hepatocellular damage, hepatoprotection, Sphaeranthus indicus
INTRODUCTION
The pharmaceutical imbalance between remedies that protect the liver and have antioxidant properties and drugs that induce hepatotoxicity has prompted and accelerated research into plants used in folk medicines to treat liver diseases and boost liver functions.
Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. (Asteraceae) commonly in Hindi known, as Gorakhmundi is an annual spreading herb, distributed through out the plains and wetlands of India, Sri Lanka and Australia [1, 2]. The entire plant is reportedly used in the ayurvedic system of medicines in the treatment of epilepsy and mental disorders [3]. It reportedly used to cure piles, hepatitis [4] and have protection against immunosupression [5]. Literature reports on the ariel parts of this plant revealed the presence of an essential oil glucosides, and eudesmanoids[6] an alkaloid sphaeranthine and an isoflavone 5,4'- dimethoxy-3'-prenylbiochanin 7-o-â- galctoside with some interesting sesquiterpene[8,9,10] and a new flavone glycoside[11] from the stem have been isolated from this herb. In this study, we have investigated the ability of flower heads extracts of Sphaeranthus indicus to protect liver against acetaminophen induced hepatocellular damage and oxidative stress in rats in-vivo.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Plant materials: Dried flower heads of Sphaeranthus indicus (SI) were procured from local drug market of Meerut U.P, India and were identified by Dr. H.B Singh, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR) New Delhi, India. A voucher specimen was...