EVALUATIOOF HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ETHYL ACETATE FRACTIOOF TEPHROSIA PURPUREA

Summary Context: Herbs are known to play a vital role in the management of various liver disorders. One such herb Tephrosia purpurea (Fabaceae) is a copiously branched herbaceous perennial plant commonly known as saraphunkha in India. The whole plant is useful in the treatment of liver disorders. In the present study, hepatoprotective action of Tephrosia purpurea was evaluated on commonly used model of experimental hepatic damage in rats. Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Tephrosia purpurea root against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) &induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and methods: Ethyl acetate fraction of ethanol extract of roots of Tephrosia purpurea (EETP) (25 and 50 mg/kg/day, p.o.) was evaluated for its efficacy in rats by inducing hepatotoxicity with CCl 4 (0.5 ml/kg, i.p.). Serum levels of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase ( ALP), billirubin and triglycerides were used as biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity. Histopathological changes in the liver were also studied. Result & Discussion: The results showed that oral administration of EETP resulted in a significant reduction in AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin when compared with CCl 4 damaged rats. A comparative histopathological study of liver from test group exhibited almost normal architecture, as compared to CCl 4&treated group. The results are comparable to that of silymarin. Hepatoprotective activity of EETP exhibited better effectiveness than silymarin in certain parameters, concluded its hepatoprotective potential. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the hepatoprotective activity of roots of Tephrosia purpurea against CCl 4&induced hepatotoxicity. The future study should fo cus on the exact mechanism of hepatoprotective action of Tephrosia purpurea .