EVALUATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF PRUNELLA VULGARIS BY CARBONTETRACHLORIDE INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY

Summary The hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract of leaves of Prunella Vulgaris against carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) induced hepatic damage was investigated. The degree of protection was determined measuring levels of serum marker enzymes like Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Total and direct bilirubin and liver weight of rat. The histopathological studies were also carried out. Silymarin was used as standard drug for comparisions. Administration of ethanolic extract of Prunella Vulgaris (50,100 mg/kg p.o) markedly decrease CCL4 induced elevation levels of Serum marker enzymes and liver weight in dose dependent manner. The effects of extract was compared with standard, Silymarin at 100 mg/kg dose. In ethanolic extract treated animals, the toxic effect of CCl4 was controlled significantly by restoration of the levels of enzymes as compared to the normal and standard drug silymarin treated groups. Histology of the liver sections of the animals treated with extract showed the presence of liver cells, absence of necrosis and fatty infiltration, which further evidenced the hepato protective activity. It was concluded that Ethanolic extract of leaves of Prunella vulgaris possesses significant hepatoprotective activity.