Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of swertiamarin from Enicostemma axillare against D-galactosamine induced acute liver damage in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The whole plant of Enicostemma axillare Raynal (Family: Gentianaceae) is used in variety of diseases in traditional Indian system of medicine including hepatic ailments. Aim of the study: Swertiamarin isolated from Enicostemma axillare Raynal was evaluated for antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity. Materials and methods: Swertiamarin was isolated from successive ethyl acetate extract of the plant Enicostemma axillare belongs to the family Gentianaceae. The concentration of swertiamarin was determined by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of swertiamarin (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) was carried out against n-Galactosamine (n-GalN) (200 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally i.p.) induced liver injury in rats. Results: Swertiamarin a secoiridoid glycoside was found to contain a major constituent of the extract. n-GalN caused significant hepatotoxicity by alteration of several hepatic parameters. It also caused significant lipid peroxidation and reduced the levels of antioxidant defense mechanisms. The treatment with swertiamarin at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight when administered orally for 8 days prior to D-GalN caused a significant restoration of all the altered biochemical parameters due to n-GalN towards the normal, indicating the potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective nature of swertiamarin. Conclusions: Swertiamarin isolated from Enicostemma axillare possesses significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties against n-GalN induced hepatotoxicity given at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight orally for 8 days, which might be due to its in vitro antioxidant activity. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.