Abstract

Treatment of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) 1 ml/kg b.w. (10% in olive oil) to Sprague-Dawley male rats once a week for 16 weeks caused a significant increase in serum level of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, estradiol and prolactin; whereas suppressed level of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were restored with the administration of n-hexane extract of Digera muricata (DMH). In addition, hepatic activities of antioxidant enzymes; catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSR), quinone reductase (QR), gamma glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) suppressed with CCl₄ were elevated with DMH gavages. Decrease in hepatic contents of glutathione (GSH) while increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitrite and H₂O₂ contents with CCl₄ were returned towards the normal level with DMH. Treatment of DMH attenuates the toxicity of CCl₄and the decrease in weight of body, liver, testis, accessory organs reversed towards the normal level. Presence of bioactive constituents (rutin and hyperoside) in DMH suggested to have therapeutic effects against CCl₄ induced oxidative stress and hypogonadism.

Key words: Digera muricata, antioxidant, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, liver cirrhosis, carbon tetrachloride, testosterone.