Hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract of whole plant of Andrographis paniculata against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Liver diseases pose a major challenge to international public health. Hepatic damage is associated with distortion of metabolic functions of the liver. The present study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of the ethanolic extract of whole plant of Andrographis paniculata in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal injection of 30 % CCl4 suspended in olive oil (1 ml /kg b.w.) after every 72 h for 10 days (group II). Hepatotoxicity-induced rats were treated with 200 mg/kg b.w. of ethanolic extract of A. paniculata for 10 days, and also, CCl4 was given as in group II rats. The effect of the drug was compared with the standard drug silymarin. The effect of the ethanolic extract of whole plant of A. paniculata on marker enzymes, serum glucose, urea, creatinine, serum bilirubin total protein, A/G ratio, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, lipid profile and antioxidants was determined. Treatment with A. paniculata extract showed a significant reduction in blood glucose levels, marker enzymes and also lipid profile. The drug significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the liver of hepatotoxic rats. The results of the present study suggest that treatment with A. paniculata extract enhanced the recovery from CCl4-induced hepatic damage due to its antioxidant and hepatoprotective property. © 2015, Springer-Verlag London.