ABSTRACT:
Barleria cuspidata is considered as one of the medicinal plant which finds its use in traditional Indian medicine for treating various liver ailments. In previous studies it has been reported Barleria cuspidata showed antihelminthic activity, wound healing potential. There are no reports on hepatoprotective activity of this plant. The present study was planned to scientifically investigate the hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Barleria cuspidata using CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity model. The animals were grouped into five groups of six animals each. Except the normal group all the other groups received carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) 50% v/v in coconut oil at a dose of 0.1 ml/kg b.w intraperitoneally for 28 days. Normal groups received plain coconut oil orally. The standard group received silymarin 50 mg/kg orally. Test groups received MEBC 200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg b.w orally. On the 28th day, blood samples were collected and serum was separated which is in turn used to analyze liver function tests such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, Total bilirubin, total cholesterol, Alb, TP levels along with tests to check SOD, Catalase, GSH, MDA followed by histopathological studies. The results thus obtained showed significant improvement in these parameters and also in the cytoarchitecture of rat liver. Thus concluding that the methanolic extract of Barleria cuspidata possess hepatoprotective activity.