Evaluation of hepatoprotective effect of Withania somnifera and Rubia cordifolia against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats

Abstract

Liver is one of the largest gland of the body and the main site for intense metabolism and excretion. Liver is concerned with metabolism of endogenous as well as exogenous substances. “Withania somnifera” and “Rubia cordifolia” claim to have hepatoprotective action. Till now, no scientific study has been performed to evaluate such claims. This was an experiment study conducted on wistar rats, in Department of Pharmacology, Index Medical College. Healthy Albino wistar rats of either gender, weighing 150- 200g were obtained from CPCSEA approved Central Animal House. The selected rats were housed in polpropylene cages under controlled conditions of temperature (25 0C) and alternating periods of light and darkness of 12 hours each. The rats had free access to standard rat pellet diet and tap water ad libitum. After one week of acclimatization, the animals were rendered suitable for study. Pregnant female rats were not included in the study. ALT level in normal saline treated group was 29.5±3.35 IU/L. It was found to be significantly increased (p<0.001) with administration of CCl4 to 433.5±48.67 IU/L.

Study of some histological effects of the preservative sodium nitrite in the fetuses and pregnant rat females

“…The histological sections of the liver of the pregnant female rats in the control groups did not show any histopathological changes during the three stages of gestation (20,16,7) days respectively and as shown in the figure (1), while the histological sections of the liver of the pregnant female rats treated with Sodium nitrite at concentrations (10) mg / kg pathological effects during the three stages of gestation (20, 16, 7) respectively such as destruction of the wall of the central vein, necrosis and degeneration of hepatocytes, dilation of sinusoids, destruction of hepatic tissue, hemorrhage, infiltration of inflammatory cells and as shown In the figures (2,4,6) respectively, these negative effects were more severe in the liver tissue of pregnant female rats treated at a concentration of 15 mg/kg, and their intensity increased with increasing stage of gestation as in the figures (3,5,7) respectively 11245…”