EVALUATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF CAPPARIS SEPIARIA LEAVES

The effect of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Capparis sepiaria Linn was studied against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wister rats. Significant hepatoprotective effects were obtained in liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride as evident from decreased serum levels of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin (SB) in the Capparis sepiaria (CS) treated groups (100,200 mg/kg), compared to the intoxicated controls. The hepatoprotective effect was further confirmed by histopathalogical studies of the liver, which showed improved architecture, absence of nuclear pycnosis, hepatocyte congestion and necrosis, when compared with the liver of the toxin group of animals. Capparis sepiaria (CS) extract also showed significant free radical scavenging activity In Vitro. Thus the present study provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of this plant in the management of liver disorders.