Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanolic and ethyl acetate Extracts of Sterculia Setigera Against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats

The ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Sterculia Setigera stem bark that belonging to the family of Sterculiaceae was studied for its hepatoprotective activity against albino rats with liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCL 4 ). These plants are used in traditional medicine in the treatment of jaundice and other diseases; No systematic studies on their hepatoprotective activity have been reported before. The hepatotoxcity was produced by administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCL 4 ) at a dose of 0.2 ml/kg for 10 days. Treatment was carried out by oral administration of the ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts 0f Sterculia Setigera stem bark at a dose 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight.  The hepatoprotective activity was also supported by histopathological studies of liver tissue. The extracts exhibited moderate protective effect by lowering the serum levels of alanine amino transferase (ALT) , Aspartate amino transferase(AST), total protein, Albumin(ALB), Bilirubin concentration and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) to significant extent. In addition the concurrent administration of the extracts with carbon tetrachloride(CCL 4 ) for 10 days masked the liver fatty changes induced by the hepatotoxic compound observed in the control negative rats and compared with hepatoprotective effect of the standard drug Silymarin.