Hepatoprotective potential of Indigofera tirunelvelica Sanjappa: in vitro and in vivo studies on CCl4 induced wistar albino rats

Abstract

The hepatoprotective efficiency of Indigofera tirunelvelica Sanjappa whole plant against CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity was examined. Rat hepatocyte monolayer culture and wistar albino rats were exercised as in vitro and in vivo screening models of protective agent for liver. In in vitro analyses, the whole plant ethanolic extract of Indigofera tirunelvelica Sanjappa were inspected. Silymarin was chosen as a standard treatement drug. In vitro, free radical scavenging property was also evaluated. In animal studies, hepatotoxicity was produced in Wistar albino rats by dispensing CCl₄. The degree of hepatotoxicity was examined by determining the ranges of serum enzyme. The antioxidant parameters such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, and malondialdehyde of the hepatocytes were also evaluated. In in vitro studies, ethanol extract of I. tirunelvelica whole plant was identified to be the most active than other assessed extracts. Besides, whole plant ethanol extract of I. tirunelvelica was noticed to be rich in phenolic and flavonoids. It exhibited expressive free radical scavenging property versus diphenylpicryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide ion radicals. In the animals studies, whole plant ethanolic extract of I. tirunelvelica at a ranges of doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) revealed considerable amount of protection against CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity as evident by the protection of CCl₄ induced changes biochemical parameters. The results of the present study suggested that the significant hepatoprotective property of whole plant ethanol extract of I. tirunelvelica against CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity and intimates its use as a potential medicinal drug for liver diseases.