ABSTRACT:
The aqueous leaf extract of Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr. was evaluated for its antihepatotoxic activity in albino rats. Animals were divided into five groups, each group comprising of six rats. Group 1 served as normal control, group 2 served as diseases control (Administered CCl4 in olive oil (1:1 v/v) at a dosage of 0.5 ml/150g body weight for single dose intra peritoneally), group 3 and 4 received CCl4 toxicity and treated orally with aqueous extract of Samanea saman Merr. at a dose of 250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively for 21 days. Group 5 received CCl4 toxicity and treated with silymarin (25mg/kg body weight) administered orally for 21 days. The plant extract (250 and 500 mg/ kg b.w) showed a remarkable antihepatotoxicity activity against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity was confirmed by evaluating the serum marker enzymes and membrane bound enzyme in liver tissues. CCl4–induces a significant rise in serum marker enzymes aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The biochemical parameters like Na+/ K+ ATP ase, Ca+ ATPase, Mg2+ ATPase, bilirubin, protein, blood urea and liver glycogen were also altered. Treatment of rats with different doses of plant extract (250 and 500 mg/ kg b.w) significantly (P<0.05) altered serum marker enzymes and biochemical parameters level to near normal. Histopathological report also showed profound regeneration of hepatic tissues on treatment with plant extract. Results obtained reveal the antihepatotoxicity properties of Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr. against CCl4–induced hepatic injury in rats.