Effect of methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa in ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity

The liver is one of the most important organs in the body which aids in the maintenance of normal body functions. It is the center of alcohol metabolism and alcohol has been implicated in the elevation of liver enzymes and damage to the parenchyma cells of the liver. Plants had been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history and many people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some part of their primary health care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa on the liver of rats following repeated administration of ethanol. Hepatotoxicity was induced on the rats using ethanol and the levels of serum enzymes such as serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), total and conjugated bilirubin were estimated. The levels of hepatic enzymes ( SGOT, SGPT and bilirubin) in the serum were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in rats treated with ethanol when compared with the control ( Pre phase). In the post phase, administration of different doses of ethanol extract significantly reduced the levels of increased hepatic serum enzymes when compared with the control. Methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa seems to have hepatoprotective effect on ethanol induced liver damage. However, similar study needs to be carried out on human to prove the authenticity of hepatoprotective effect of Hibiscus Sabdariffa.