Evaluation of Citrullus colocynthis fruits on in vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo DEN/PB induced hepatotoxicity

Summary:The present work was aimed to study the biochemical effect of methanolic extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruits (MECC) against N-nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatic damage in male rats.Rats received with DEN/PB showed the elevated levels of cholesterol (p<0.05), triglycerides (TG, p<0.01), free fatty acids (FFA, p<0.01), low density lipoprotein (LDL, p<0.01), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL, p<0.05) and decreased level of high density lipoprotein (HDL), urea and creatinine. Administration of MECC 200,400 mg/kg.p.o to rats orally for 28 days significantly reduced the biochemical alterations induced by DEN/PB. Moreover results from invitro antioxidant studies revealed that, maximum percentage inhibition of DPPH radicals by MECC was about 62% at 800 μg/mL. In the nitric oxide radical scavenging model, the maximum percentage inhibition by MECC is about 56% at 800μg/mL and in reducing power method, MECC demonstrated dose dependent antioxidant activity comparable with Ascorbic acid. Thus, results from our preliminary studies clearly indicates that Citrullus colocynthis might be beneficial in attenuating the elevated biochemical parameters during DEN/PB induced hepatic damage and the results suggested the ability of the extract to combat oxidative stress by quenching free radicals which reveals that, the attenuation due to its anti-oxidant property. Industrial relevance: Citrullus Colocynthis fruits are traditionally used as an abortifacient and to treat constipation, oedema, bacterial infections, cancer and diabetes. But the experimental background has not been sufficient. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the plant showed the presence of terpinoids,flavonoids,glycosides,alkaloids,phytosterols,tannins and phenolics along with cucurbitacins, caffeic acid derivatives.In view of the above fact, the present study was designed to study the biochemical effect of Citrullus colocynthis fruits on in vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo DEN/PB induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Keywords: Citrulluscolocythis;N-nitrosodiethylamine;Phenobarbital;Hepatic damage;Antioxidants.