Hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of Justicia gendarusa against CCl4 induced acute hepatic damage in rats.

To evaluate the effect of hepatoprotective activity of Justicia gendarusa on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced acute liver toxicity in rats, wistar albino rats were divided into 6 group each consisting of 6 animals: Group I served as control rats; Group II included CCl4 treated rats; Group III and IV included rats treated with ethanolic extract (200 and 400 mg/kg respectively) of Justicia gendarusa` (EEJG); Group V included silymarin treated rats. Liver marker enzymes including serum glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, total protein, bilirubin were evaluated. Antioxidants parameters such as super oxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured and histopathological evaluation of liver tissue was carried out. Our results indicated that treatment with EEJG significantly (P<0.05-P<0.001) reduced CCl4 induced serum hepatic enzymes levels. Furthermore, EEJG significantly (P<0.001) reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver tissues and restored activities of normal levels antioxidant enzymes (GSH, SOD and CAT), which was further confirmed by the histopathological studies. The results of this study strongly indicates that hepatoprotective effect of EEJG is due to antioxidant properties.