Hepatoprotective effects of Calotropis gigantea extract against carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in rats
Hepatoprotective effects ofCalotropis giganteaextract against carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in ratsEthanolic extract (50 %) of stems ofCalotropis giganteaR. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) at doses of 250 and 500 mg kg-1were studied for hepatoprotective activity in male Wistar rats with liver damage induced using carbon tetrachloride, 2 mL kg-1twice a week. The protective effect ofC. giganteaextract was compared with the standard drug silymarin. Various biochemical parameters such as aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxide (LPO), superoxidedismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) were evaluated. The results revealed that theC. giganteaextract significantly decreased AST, ALT (p< 0.001) and lipid peroxide (p< 0.01) levels. The antioxidant parameters GSH, GPx, SOD and catalase levels were increased considerably compared to their levels in groups not treated withC. giganteaextract.