Hepatoprotective activity of leaves of Rhododendron arboreum in CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Rhododendron arboreum against Carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Methods: Liver damage was induced in Wistar rats by administering CCl4 on 2nd and 3rd day. The ethanolic extract of leaves of Rhododendron arboreum was given for five days. Silymarin (100 mg/kg) was given as the reference drug. Hepatoprotective effect was studied by assaying the activities of serum marker enzymes like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloactetate transaminase and serum alkaline phosphatase, serum direct bilirubin, serum total bilirubin, serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol and estimation of ascorbic acid in urine. Histopathological study of the liver in experimental animals was also undertaken. Result: The activities of all the marker enzymes registered a significant elevation in Carbon tetrachloride treated rats, which were significantly recorved towards an almost normal level in animals co-administered with ethanolic extract of leaves of Rhododendron arboreum at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Ethanolic extract of leaves of Rhododendron arboreum prevented decrease in the excretion of ascorbic acid in CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Histopathological analysis confirmed the biochemical investigations. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that the ethanolic extract of leaves of Rhododendron arboreum possess hepatoprotective property.