HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS LAM. LEAVES AGAINST THIOACETAMIDE INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY ON WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Abstract

In the present study, the hepatoprotective activity of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. leaves was investigated against thioacetamide induced hepatotoxicity model in Wistar albino rats. The acute toxicity study showed that there is no mortality or adverse reaction at the fixed dose of 2000 mg/kg. The methanolic and aqueous extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively were administered daily to study the hepatoprotective effect in thioacetamide induced hepatotoxic model for the period of 10 days. It was observed that there was a remarkable decrease in bilirubin (Total and Direct), ALP, SGOT and SGPT level in treatment group as compared to the hepatotoxic group. In histopathological study, hepatocytic necrosis and inflammation in the centrilobular region with portal triaditis was found in hepatotoxicity induced group whereas minimal inflammation with moderate portal triaditis and normal lobular architecture observed in extract treated groups. From the observation, it can be concluded that the methanolic as well as aqueous extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. have the potential to revert the hepatic injury induced by thioacetamide. Comparatively, the aqueous extract at 500 mg/kg b.w. resulted significant hepatoprotective effect as compared to methanolic extract at the same dose level. The standard drug silymarin was used for comparison.