Protective Response of Dried Stems of Cassia auriculata against Carbon Tetrachloride induced Liver Damage in Wistar Albino Rats

Chronic liver diseases commonly result in liver fibrosis. Carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) is widely used for experimental induction of liver fibrosis. It is a potent heptotoxin producing centrilobular necrosis which causes liver injury. Five groups of 3 rats each were used. First group (normal control) was given 1 ml of liquid paraffin /kg b.wt. Daily for 21 days and kept as normal control. Rats of the second group were given the same dose of liquid paraffin, in addition CCl4 (30% in liquid paraffin) was given in a single oral dose of 1 ml /kg b.wt, for every 72 hours. Rats of the third, fourth and fifth groups were pre-treated orally with 25 mg/kg b.wt of silymarin, 200 and 400 mg/kg of ethanolic extract of cassia auriculata suspended in 1% CMC. Serum was separated and used for various biochemical estimations. Liver and kidney were collected in ice-cold containers, washed with saline, homogenized with appropriate buffer and used for the estimation of protein, liver enzymes (SGPT & SGOT), ALP, hepatic TBARS and glutathione. The experiment was carried out to investigate the role of antioxidant enzymes and liver enzymes such GSH, LPO, ALP, SGOT, SGPT & protein. This protective effect of this drug can be correlated directly to its antioxidant and hepatoprotective property. Keywords: Cassia auriculata, hepatoprotective activity, silymarin, CCl4