Abstract

The present investigation aims at assessing the hepatoprotective effect of saponin fraction isolated from the leaf of Euphorbia neriifolia on CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity on rat. CCl₄ (1.5 mg/kg, i.p) is a potent hepatotoxic agent, which induces peroxidative degeneration of membrane lipids causing hypoperfusion of the membrane. Cytosolic enzymes like SGPT, SGOT and ALP elevates in the blood and hepatic glutathione and SOD decreases. The hepatoprotection of triterpene was compared with silymerin, a well known standard hepatoprotectant. Euphol was isolated from E. neriifolia leaf total sapogenin fraction after separation and instrumentation. Pretreatment with total saponin fraction (50, 125 and 175 mg/kg, p.o once a day for 4 days before CCl₄ and continued further for 3 days) attenuated the CCl₄-induced acute increase in serum SGPT, SGOT and ALP activities and considerably reduced the histopathological alterations. Further, saponin fraction reduced thiopentone (4 mg/kg, i.p) induced sleeping time, suggesting the protection of liver metabolizing enzymes. Saponin administration replenished the depleted hepatic GSH and SOD by improving the antioxidant status of the liver. Saponin pretreatment improves bromsulphalein clearance and also increases the cellular viability. These effects substantiate protection of cellular phospholipid from peroxidative damage induced by highly reactive toxic intermediate radicals formed during biotransformation of CCl₄.

Key words: Euphorbia neriifolia, triterpenoidal saponin, euphol, b-amyrin, hepatoprotective.

Abbreviation

ENSF, Euphorbia neriifolia leaf sapogenin fraction; LD₅₀, half maximal lethal dose; CCl₄, carbon tetrachloride; SOD, superoxide dismutase;MDA, malondialdehyde; SGOT, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase; SGPT,serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; NAD,nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; BSP, bromsulphthalein.