CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF JATROPHA CURCAS FRUIT EXTRACTS AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED CARDIOTOXICITY IN RATS

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to explore the cardioprotective effect of Jatropha curcas fruit extracts against carbon tetrachloride induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Cardiotoxicity was induced by CCl4 (3ml/kg body weight) in animals. Blood biochemical, hematological parameters and histopathological studies were carried to assess the cardioprotective effect. CCl4 administration induced significant cardiotoxicity in rats, which was evident from enhanced levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and all hematological parameters. Pretreatment of silymarin (50mg/kg dose orally) significantly reversed carbon tetrachloride induced cardiotoxicity. From the obtained results it may be concluded that Jatropha curcas methanol extract (250mg/kg body weight) showed significant protective effect against CCl4 induced cardiotoxicity in rats than Jatropha curcas aqueous extract (p<0.001) for most of the blood biochemical parameters, hematological parameters as well in attenuation of pathological changes in heart tissues.