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ABSTRACT:
The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of Gloriosa superba leaves against carbon tetracholoride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxic model. The plant materials were dried in shade, powdered with help of hand grinder and extracted with alcohol. Preliminary phytochemical test shows the presence of Alkaloids, Carbohydrates, Tannins, Amino acids and Flavanoids. The alcoholic extract of Gloriosa superba (AEGS) showed a significant dose dependent (250 mg and 500 mg/kg p.o.) antioxidant activity. The degree of antioxidant activity was measured by using serum biochemical parameters like hepatic antioxidant enzymes like SOD, CAT, GPX and LPO. AEGS at a dose level of 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg produce significant (P<0.001) antioxidant activity by decreasing the level Malondialdehyde, while it significantly increased the levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) , superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase activity (CAT) in a dose dependent manner. The effect of AEGS was comparable to that of standard drug Silymarin.
KEYWORDS: Gloriosa superba, SOD, GPX, CAT, MDA
INTRODUCTION:
Free radicals, from both endogenous and exogenous sources are implicated in the etiologic of several degenerative diseases such as coronary artery diseases, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and cancer.1 High consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with low risk for these diseases, which is attributed to the antioxidant vitamins and other phytochemical.2-4 There is a great deal of interest in edible plants that contain antioxidants and health promoting phytochemicals, in view of their health implications.
Liver is often abused by environmental toxins, poor eating habits, alcohol and over the counter drug use, that damage and weaken the liver leading to important public health problems like hepatitis, cirrhosis and alcoholic liver diseases.5 The conventional drugs used in the treatment of liver diseases viz., corticoasteroids, antiviral and immunosuppressant agents are sometimes inadequate and may lead to serious adverse effects. In India, numerous medicinal plants and their formulations are used for liver disorders in traditional systems of medicine. It is cardinal to treat liver disorders since it directly affects the biochemistry of the cell through participating events like oxidative stress, redox change, etc.6 which induces lipid peroxidation. Peroxidation of membrane phospholipids not only alters the lipid mileu and structural as well as functional integrity of cell membranes, but also affects the activities of various membrane-bound enzymes including total...