Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Ficus bengalensis

Abstract

We have investigated the hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of bark of Ficus bengalensis against paracetamol and CCl₄ induced liver damage. Treatment of rats with paracetamol and CCl₄ produced a significant increase in the levels of Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase SGPT, Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase SGOT, Alkaline Phosphatase ALP, total and direct bilirubin. Rats pretreated with methanolic extract of barks of F. bengalensis 100 and 250 mg/kg body weight p.o. exhibited rise in the levels of these enzymes but it was significantly less as compared to those treated with paracetamol or CCl₄ alone. The results of methanolic extract of F. bengalensis were comparable with the standard hepatoprotective agent silymarin 100mg/kg. Maximum hepatoprotective effect was found to be at the dose of 250mg/kg body weight in case of CCl₄ induced hepatic damage while 500mg/kg body weight in case of paracetamol induced hepatic damage. Our data suggest that methanolic extract of F. bengalensis bark possesses a potential antihepatotoxic activity.