Hepatoprotective efficacy of ethanolic extracts of rhizome Curcuma amada Roxb. In experimental rats

Abstract

The scope of this study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective efficacy of rhizome Curcuma amada Roxb. (CAR) in CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male Albino Wister rats were divided into six groups (n=6). Group I served as the normal control group and received olive oil (i.p. 0.5 mL/kg b.w.) as a vehicle. Group II served as high dose group and received 400mg/kg b.w CAR. Group III served as the carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) group and received CCl₄ (i.p., 0.1 mL/kg b.w., 50% CCl₄ in olive oil). Groups IV–VI served as the treatment groups, and they received CARdissolved in distilled water orally at dose levels of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w., respectively, with CCl₄ (i.p., 0.1 mL/kg b.w., 50% CCl4 in olive oil). All the groups were given the respective dosages twice a week for 28 days. The result of the marker enzymes AST, ALT, ALP and TBARS in the serum sample revealed an appreciable increase in groups IV, V and VI with respect to CCl₄ treated group. This confirmed the hepatoprotective nature of CAR there by deactivating the phase II detoxifying enzymes, preventing the formation of free radical and protecting the cell membrane from degeneration. The nonenzymatic antioxidants pattern of GSH, GP_X and GST showed decreased levels with respect to group III. This confirmed that CAR has induced the GSH antioxidant system by increasing cellular defense against reactive free radicals and other oxidative species. The histological architecture of liver sections in Group-IV–VI showed more or less normal lobular pattern with mild degrees of fatty change, necrosis and lymphocyte infiltration almost comparable to those of control group. These results act as a supporting evidence to exhibit the hepatoprotective nature of CAR.