Abstract

In the present investigation, the antioxidant and antihepatotoxic activities of the crude ethanolic extract of Melia azedarach and Piper longum were studied. The antioxidative activities of biherbal ethanolic extract (BHEE) were investigated employing various established in vitro systems such as total antioxidant activity in linoleic acid emulsion system and inhibitory effect on protein oxidation. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of the extract (BHEE) were also determined by a colorimetric method. The biherbal ethanolic extract also showed potent antihepatoxic activity against carbon tetrachloride – induced acute toxicity in rat liver. The BHEE at a dose level of 50 mg/kg body weight were administered to different groups of rats orally once daily for 14 days. The degree of liver protection was determined by estimating the levels of serum marker enzymes such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, ACP and LDH. Silymarin at a dose level of 50 mg/kg was used as standard. The results revealed that BHEE has notable inhibitory activity on peroxides formation in linoleic acid emulsion system in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, free radical-induced protein oxidation was suppressed significantly by the addition of BHEE over a range of concentration, as revealed by the marked elevation of serum marker enzyme levels in CCl₄treated rats. The amelioration of liver toxicity by BHEE was evident from its significant effect on the levels of serum marker enzymes such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, ACP and LDH. The results of this study strongly indicate that the hepatoprotective effect of the BHEE is possibly related to its marked antioxidant activity.

Key words: Hepatoprotective, marker enzymes, biherbal ethanolic extract (BHEE), carbon tetra chloride.