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Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Sphaeranthus indicus Linn against perchloroethylene – induced hepatotoxicity in rats

M.A.Rathi, L.Thirumoorthi, M.Sunitha, P.Meenakshi, D.Chinna Guruvaiah, M.J.Jiji, V.K.Gopalakrishnan

Sphaeranthus indicus is used as traditional herbalmedicine in India to treat various disorders. In the present study, the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Sphaeranthus indicus was evaluated against perchloroethylene 1000mg/kg bw induced hepatic damage in rats. The extract at dose of 500mg/kg bw was administered orally once daily for seven days. The elevated serum enzymatic levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) showed marked decrease as compared to normal control. Antioxidant enzymes like catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase levels are increased towards the normal. The biochemical observations were supplemented with histopathological examinations of rat liver sections. The results of this study strongly indicate that Sphaeranthus indicus have potent hepatoprotective action against perchloroethylene- induced hepatic damage in rats.