Hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities of Ballota glandulosissima

Water extract of Ballota glandulosissima Hub.-Mor & Patzak (Lamiaceae) (BG) was investigated for anti-inflammatory activity using the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema test and for hepatoprotective effect on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Biochemical parameters of hepatic damage such as serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin concentrations were determined. CCl4 (0.8mL/kg i.p. for 7 days) treatment increased the serum AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin levels significantly as compared to controls. Treatment of animals with BG (100 mg/kg, i-p.) +CCl4 (0.8 mL/kg i.p.) for 7 days significantly ameliorated the levels of AST, ALT and ALP elevated by the CCl4 treatment alone. The results of biochemical tests were also confirmed by histopathological examination. BG together with CCl4 treatment decreased the balloning degeneration but did not produced apoptosis of hepatocytes, centrilobular and bridging necrosis observed in the CCl4 treatment alone. BG, at 100 mg/kg per os, showed a significant reduction (34.22%) in rat paw oedema induced by carrageenan. The reference anti-inflammatory drugs etodolac (50 mg/kg, p.o.) and indomethacin (3 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the oedeme by 43.42 and 95.70%, respectively. The present study reveals that the water extract of Ballota glandulosissima possesses promising protective activity against CCl4 induced hepatic damage and anti-inflammatory activity in rats. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.