HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC FRUIT EXTRACT OF TERMINALIA CHEBULA ON ETHANOL INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS.

V. Balakrishna* and T. Lakshmi

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of ethanolic Fruit extract of Terminalia chebula in ethanol induced Hepatotoxicity in rats. Rats were divided into six different groups each having six. Group 1 served as a control, Group 2 received 40%Ethanol (2ml/100g, oral), in sterile water, group 3,4 and 5 served as extract treatment groups and received 50, 100 & 200 mg/kg, orally, ethanolic fruit extract of Terminalia chebula(TCE) and group 6 served as standard group and received Silymarin 25 mg/kg orally. All the treatment protocols followed 21 days and after which rats were sacrificed, blood samples were taken for biochemical studies. The Ethanol treated group rats (G2) showed variable increase in serum AST, ALT, ALP, total protein and total bilirubin levels. Administration of ethanolic extracts of Terminalia chebula significantly prevented Ethanol-induced elevation in the levels of serum diagnostic liver marker enzymes aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and decreased antioxidant parameters in experimental groups of rats. Moreover, total protein and total bilirubin levels were significantly increased in treatment groups. The effect of extract was compared with a standard drug, Silymarin. It is concluded that the ethanolic fruit extract of Terminalia chebula protects against Ethanol-induced oxidative liver injury in rats.

Keywords: Terminalia chebula; Ethanol; Hepatotoxicity; Silymarin; TCE.