Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Abstract

Ripe fruits of Averrhoa carambola Linn., juice of tender leaves of Cajanus cajan Linn. and Paederia foetida Linn. are used by different ethnic communities of Assam for the treatment of jaundice, dyspepsia and other hepatic diseases. The hepatoprotective activity of the three plants species were studied against acetaminophen and D-galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rats. Methanolic extracts (100mg/kg, p.o.) of ripe fruits of Avorrhoa carambola and tender leaves of Cajanus cajans attributed reduction of elevated biochemical enzymes viz. serum glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and serum total bilirubin (STBr). The experimental animal pre exposed to the extracts of A carambola and C cajan exhibited 32.07 - 35.38 and 68.28 - 75.86 of overall percentage reduction (OPR) of elevated biochemical enzymes. The post treatment with plant extracts exhibits OPR of 39.37 - 48.54 and 64.92 - 72.02 by A carambola and C cajan respectively. The comparative studies of histopathology of liver of the experimental rats corroborate to the biochemical finding. However, the extracts of P foetida failed to reverse the elevated liver specific biochemical enzymes as well as histopathological damage induced by both hepatotoxins in experimental rats. These evidences conclusively support that the A carrambola and C cajan possess moderate to good hepatoprotective activity.