A study on hepatoprotective activity of aqueous seed extract of Vigna Unguiculata (l) Walp against ethanol induced hepatotoxicity in rats

In the present study, the aqueous extract of Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp seed was evaluated for its hepatoprotective effect on etahnol induced acute liver damage on Wistar albino rats. The degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxalate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) levels. Ethanol induced group had enhanced levels of SGPT, SGOT, ALP, TB & LPO and decreased levels of GSH, SOD and CAT when compared with control group. Treatment with silymarin, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp seed extract had significantly brought down the elevated levels of SGPT, SGOT, ALP, TB & LPO and an increase in the levels of GSH, SOD, LPO and CAT. The results showed that aqueous extract of Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp seeds possesses significant hepatoprotective activity. Key words: Ethanol, Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp, Hepatotoxicity, Wistar albino rat