Investigation of hepatoprotective activity of Ficus retusa (Moraceae).

Ficus retusa (Moraceae) is distributed through out Western peninsula and also found in Chota Nagpur, Bihar, Central India, Andamans, Sundribuns, Malaya islands and Australia. In Sanskrit, it is known a s ‘Kantalaka’, ‘Kshudra’ and in Telugu it is well known as ‘Yerrajuvvi’. Ficus leaves of ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was prepared and tested for its hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride induced in rats. Al teration in the levels of biochemical markers of hepatic damage like SGPT, SGOT, ALP, bilirubin were tested in both treated and untreated groups. Carbon tetrachloride has enhanced the SGPT, SGOT, ALP and bilirubin levels. Treatment with ethyl acetate extra ct of Ficus retusa leaves has brought back the altered levels of biochemical markers to the near normal levels in the dose dependent manner SGOT (213.1± 1.25, 198.2± 3.45, 180.6 ± 2.05), SGPT(195.1±2.22, 168.4±1.36, 112.6±3.24), ALKP(215.6±4.60, 202.3±2.45 , 195.1±3.20) and T.B(1.24±0.01, 1.05±1.08, 0.96±0.13) levels respectively . Though both the extracts were recorded with significant hepatoprotective activit y with same “p” value (p<0.001). Which were significant protective a ctivity in groups treated with F R and silymarin. It was concluded from the study that ethyl acetate and methanol ic extracts of FR possess hepatoprotective activity against CCl 4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats.