ABSTRACT:
The hepatoprotective potential of the ethanolic extract of a wild edible mushroom (Russula albonigra) was studied in vivo in mice carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity. Alteration in the levels of biochemical markers of hepatic damage like serum glutamate pyruvate tranaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin were tested in both treated and untreated groups. Carbon tetrachloride has enhanced the SGPT, SGOT, ALP and bilirubin levels, reflecting the liver injury caused by CCl4. Treatment with ethanolic extract of Russula albonigra at a dose of 150 mg/kg once daily has brought back the altered levels of biochemical markers to the near normal levels. Silymarin was used as standard reference drug. The hepatic antioxidant status such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were reduced in the CCl4 alone treated animals with subsequent increase in lipid peroxidation. Administration of the extract challenge restored the hepatic antioxidant status. The hepatoprotective activity was also supported by histopathological studies of liver tissue. The findings thus suggested ethanolic extract of Russula albonigra afford significant protection against CCl4 induced hepatocellular injury in mice by restoring the liver antioxidant status.