Hepatoprotective activity of LIV-first against carbon tetra chloride-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats

Liver toxicity is a major health problem of worldwide proportions. Herbal medicines derived from plant extracts are being increasingly utilized to treat a wide variety of clinical diseases. In the present study, LIV-first (16.3 mg/kg, p.o.) was used to screen the hepatoprotective activity. Hepatotoxicity was induced in experimental animals by administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) (1 ml/kg, i.p). Silymarin (25 mg/kg,p.o.) was used as the standard. Biochemical parameters like serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum bilirubin were measured. Cytotoxicity of CCl 4 was estimated by quantitating the release of malondialdehyde. The activity of tissue antioxidant enzymes namely superoxide dismutase, catalase and the level of total protein and glutathione were also measured. Histopathological evaluation of liver sections was also done. CCl 4 administration in rats elevated the levels of SGPT, SGOT, ALP and bilirubin. Administration of LIV-first significantly ( P< 0.01) prevented this increase. The activity of anti-oxidant enzymes in carbon tetrachloride CCl 4 -treated group was decreased and these enzyme levels were significantly ( P< 0.05) increased in LIV-first-treated groups. Histopathological studies revealed that the concurrent administration of CCl 4 with the extract exhibited protection of the liver tissue, which further evidenced the above results. The study confirmed the hepatoprotective activity of LIV-first, which may be attributed to its antioxidant property.