Hepatoprotective effects of Meconopsis aculeata extract against CCl4 induced oxidative damage in rats

The objective of the present study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of methanol extract of Meconopsis aculeata, an important medicinal plant of Kashmir Himalayas, against CCl4 induced oxidative damage in rats. Acute hepatotoxicity was induced in Wistar albino rats by single intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 at 1 ml/kg body weight dose. Methanol extract of M. aculeata was orally administered at the doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight/day for 14 days. The results revealed that administration of CCl4 caused a significant increase in serum AST, ALT and LDH levels as compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the level of hepatic GSH, GPx, GST, SOD and CAT activities associated with a significant increase of MDA content in CCl4 treated group compared to those of the control group. However, the treatment with methanol extract of M. aculeata prevented these alterations and maintained the antioxidant status. The hepatoprotective property of the extract was further confirmed by histopathological analysis, wherein the extract was shown to prevent neutrophil infiltration and tissue necrosis in the liver samples of treated animals. The results of the present investigation indicate that methanol extract of M. aculeata possesses potent hepatoprotective activity, possibly due to its antioxidant properties.