Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of Acanthus ilicifolius

The alcoholic extract of Acanthus ilicifolius leaves inhibited the formation of oxygen derived free radicals (ODFR) in vitro with IC50 of 550 mug/ml, 2750 mug/ml, 670 mug/ml and 600 mug/ml (Fe2+/ascorbate system), 980 mug/ml (Fe3+/ADP/ascorbate system) for superoxide radical production, hydroxyl radical generation, nitric oxide radical formation and lipid peroxide formation, respectively. The oral administration of the extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) significantly reduced CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats, as judged from the serum and tissue activity of marker enzymes [glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)]. These results were comparable with those obtained with curcumin (100 mg/kg, p.o.). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.