Abstract:

Objective: The present study is done to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Turnera aphrodisiaca leaves against ethanol - induced liver damage in male Wistar rats. Methods: Rats were divided into five different groups each having six. Group 1 served as a Normal control, Group 2 received 40% ethanol (2 ml/100 g, oral), in sterile water, Groups 4 and 5served as extract treatment groups and received a dose of 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg, orally, ethanolic leaf extract of Turnera aphrodisiaca (ELTA) and Group 3 served as standard group and received silymarin at a dose of 25 mg/kg orally, treatment protocols followed 21 days, and after which rats were sacrificed, the liver was taken for biochemical and histological studies, respectively. Results: It was found that ethanolic leaf extract of Turnera aphrodisiaca (ELTA) at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight showed significant hepatoprotective activity by lowering the alkaline phosphate (ALP), Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase (SGOT), Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT), and total bilirubin contents and also significantly increased the levels of total protein. The results of histopathological studies further supported this hepatoprotective activity. Ethanolic leaf extract of Turnera aphrodisiaca at dose of 400 mg/Kg showed significant hepatoprotective activity that is equivalent to silymarin. Conclusion: It is concluded that the alcoholic extract of Turnera aphrodisiaca leaves protects against ethanol-induced oxidative liver injury in rats.

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