Hepatoprotective effect of Glinus oppositifolius Linn

 

P. Natarajan*, A. Thanga Thirupathi, T. Raja Sekharan, A. S. William Arputha Sundar, R. Arivukkarasu and M. Ganesan

Department of Pharmacology, Sankaralingam Bhuvaneswari College of Pharmacy, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India.

ABSTRACT:

Hepatoprotective effect of a methanolic extract of Glinus oppositifolius Linn root on liver damage induced by Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in albino rats. Oral administration of the methanolic extract showed significant protective action made evident by its effect on the level of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), total bilirubin and direct bilirubin. The results of this study showed that treatment with Glinus oppositifolius Linn extracts appears to enhance the recovery from hepatic damage induced by CCl4.

 

KEYWORDS: Glinus oppositifolius Linn, Hepatoprotective, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), total bilirubin and direct bilirubin.

 

1. INTRODUCTION

The liver is the principle organ of metabolism and excretion is subject to a number of diseases which may be classed as liver cirrhosis (cell destruction and increase in fibrous tissue), acute chronic hepatitis (non inflammatory condition) jaundice a yellow fever discoloration of the skin and eyes caused by bile in the blob is the symptom of blockage of the bile duct or disease within the tissue of the liver itself1.

 

Glinus oppositifolius Linn (Aizoaceae), commonly called slender carpet weed is a prostrate or diffuse herb which acts as stomachic, uterine stimulant, aperient and lochia. It is used traditionally in the treatment of ear ache and skin disease2. The present study was aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Glinus oppositifolius Linn root with methanolic extract.

 

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS:

2.1 Plant material:

Glinus oppositifolius Linn was collected around Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It was authenticated by a botanist of S.F.R. College at Sivakasi.

 

2.2 Preparation of extract:

The root of the plant was shade dried and powdered. The powdered material was extracted using methanol at 65oC for 72h in a soxhlet apparatus. The extracted solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain solid masses and the percentage yield of the extract was found to be 10.66%3.

 

2.3 Animals:

Adult Wistar albino rats (either sex) weighing between 150-250g were used in these experiments. The animals were housed at temperature (20±2oC) in standard cages with standard pellet food and water ad libitum, and kept under controlled environment following the standard operating procedures of the animal house with the approval of animal ethics committee4.

2.4 Hepatoprotective effect against CCl4 in rats:

A total of 30 animal were equally divided into 5 groups (n=6 in each group)

 

Figure 1: Normal control rat: Section of liver showing normal Hepatic cell (Group1)

 

Group1: Served as control, which received normal saline 10ml/kg p.o. for 7 days 5.

 

Figure 2: CCl4 treated rat: Section of liver showing hepatocytes show    ballooning degeneration. Areas of fibrosis (Group2)

 

Group2: Administered CCl4 0.5ml/kg i.p. once daily for 7 days6.

 

Figure 3: Methanolic extract 200mg/kg: Fibrosis (Group3)

 

Group3: Administered CCl4 0.5ml/kg i.p. and methanolic extract 200mg/kg p.o. simultaneously for 7 days.

Figure 4: Methanolic extract 500mg/kg: Showing almost normal liver (Group4)

 

Group4: Administered CCl4 0.5ml/kg i.p. and methanolic extract 500mg/kg p.o. simultaneously for 7 days.

 

Figure 5: Silymarin 200mg/kg: Showing almost normal liver (Group5)

 

Group5: Administered CCl4 0.5ml/kg i.p. and silymarin (standard drug) 200mg/kg. p.o. simultaneously for 7 days 7.

 

At the end of the treatment, blood samples were collected by direct cardiac puncture and the serum was used for the assay of marker enzymes viz., SGPT, SGOT, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin. The rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the liver was removed for histopathological studies8.

 

2.5 Statistical analysis:

The data were expressed as mean + S.E.M and statistical assessed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The difference between drug treated animals and controls was evaluated by Dunnett’s test9.

 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Methanolic extract of root of Glinus oppositifolius Linn showed decreased SGPT, SGOT, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin, level compared with CCl4 induced groups and standard group (silymarin).


Table 1: Effect of Methanolic root extract of Glinus oppositifolius Linn on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Groups

Design of treatment

Total bilirubin (mg/dl)

Direct bilirubin (mg/dl)

SGPT (units/ml)

SGOT (units/ml)

1

Normal saline (Control)

0.58±0.03

0.78±0.03

0.23±0.02

0.32±0.01

2

Carbon tetrachloride 0.5 ml/kg

3.50±0.13#

3.85±0.12#

0.59±0.02#

0.87±0.01#

3

Methanolic extract 200 mg/kg

1.41±0.03*

1.85±0.03*

0.46±0.01*

0.57±0.02*

4

Methanolic extract 500 mg/kg

0.77±0.06*

1.35±0.22*

0.31±0.01*

0.37±0.02*

5

Silymarin 200mg/kg (standard)

0.66±0.038*

0.78±0.07*

0.26±0.02*

0.38±0.18*

1. Values are expressed as mean ± S.E.M, n=6 (6 animals were used in each group), # P<0.01 as compared with group1: * P<0.01 as compared with group2.

 

Graph 1: Effect of methanolic root extract of Glinus oppositifolius Linn and silymarin on serum total bilirubin and direct bilirubin in CCl4 induced liver damage

 

Graph 2: Effect of methanolic root extract of Glinus oppositifolius Linn and silymarin on SGPT and SGOT in CCl4 induced liver damage

 

 

It further confirmed that comparison of methanolic extracts of root of Glinus oppositifolius Linn at a dose of 200mg/kg and 500mg/kg showed a decreased in the SGPT, SGOT, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels when compared with CCl4 induced animals. However methanolic extract at a dose of 500mg/kg showed better protection than 200mg/kg. Methanolic extract of root of Glinus oppositifolius Linn showed result was compared with silymarin 200mg/kg (standard drug).

 

The results of hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extracts of the root of Glinus oppositifolius Linn was showed in Table 1.

 

3.1 Histopathology:

Liver section of control group [Figure 1] showed normal arrangements of hepatocytes. Microscopical examination of liver section of CCl4 treatment [Figure 2] showed ballooning degeneration causes of fibrosis of hepatic cells.

 

Liver section of methanolic extract of root of Glinus oppositifolius Linn treated group [Figure 4] clearly showed normal hepatic cells, which are compared with silymarin [Figure 5] treated group.

 

4. CONCLUSION:

The potent hepatoprotective effect of root of Glinus oppositifolius Linn was evident by significant reduction in serum SGPT, SGOT, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels when compared with CCl4 induced animals. Liver section of the animals treated with root extract of Glinus oppositifolius Linn showed normal hepatic cells and central vein there by confirming the hepatoprotective effect.

 

5. REFERENCE:

1.       Ross & Wilson Anatomy & Physiology, in health & illness10th ed. Anne Waugh, Allison; 304-307.

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3.       Sheeja E, Joshi S B, Jain D C. Antiovulatory and estrogenic activity of Plumbago rosea leaves in female albino rats, Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 2009; 41(6):273-277

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5.       Umamaheswari M, Ashokkumar k, Lima Trisa Baby, Sivashanmugam A T, Subhadradevi V, Ravi T K, Hepatoprotective activity of Erythrina stricta roxb.and vitex negundo L.againstCarbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats. International Journal of Pharma Research, 2009;22-28

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7.       Ashok Shenoy K, Somayaji S N, Bairy K C, Hepatoprotective effects of Glnkgo Biloba against CCl4 induced hepatic injury in rats, Indian journal of pharmacology, 2001; 33: 260-266.

8.       Rao K S, and Mishra S H, Anti inflammatory and anti hepatotoxic activities of the roots of Moringa pterygosperma Gaerth. Indian journal of pharmaceutical science, 1998; 60(1): 12-16

9.       Sahu K G, Khadabadi S S, Bhide S S, Tapadiya G G, Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Amorphophallus campanulatus (Roxb.) Against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity, Journal of Adv. Pharmacology & Toxicology, 2009; 10(3): 73-80

 

 

Received on 11.05.2010

Accepted on 17.02.2010     

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Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 2(4): July-August 2010, 289-292