Hepatoprotective Effect of Macrotyloma uniflorum Seeds (Horse gram) in Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Toxicity in Rats: Evidence of an Underlying Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

The protective effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of seeds of Macrotyloma uniflorum (MUSE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) induced hepatotoxicity and the probable mechanism(s) involved in this protection were investigated in rats. Liver damage was induced in Wistar rats by administering 1:1 (v/v) mixture of CCl4 and olive oil (1 ml/kg, i.p.) once daily for 7 days. MUSE (250 mg/kg & 500 mg/kg) and the reference drug silymarin (100 mg/kg) were administered orally for 10 days to CCl4 treated rats, this treatment beginning 3 days prior to the commencement of CCl4 administration. The degree of protection was evaluated by determining the marker enzyme (AST, ALT & ALP) activities and levels of bilirubin, albumin and total proteins in serum. Further, the effect of MUSE on malondialdehyde (lipid peroxidation marker) content, glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities was estimated in liver homogenate to evaluate its antioxidant activity. MUSE attenuated significantly the CCl4 -elevated levels of AST, ALT, ALP, malondialdehyde and bilirubin. MUSE also restored significantly the CCl4 -depleted levels of albumin, total protein, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. MUSE 500 mg\kg demonstrated greater hepatoprotection than MUSE 250 mg\kg. The present findings indicate that the hepatoprotective effect of MUSE in CCl4 induced oxidative damage may be due to an augmentation of the endogenous antioxidants and an inhibition of lipid peroxidation in liver.