Hepatoprotective effect of leaf extracts of Andrographis lineata nees on liver damage caused by carbon tetrachloride in rats

The present study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Andrographis lineata (Acanthaceae) extracts in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats. Male Wistar rats with chronic liver damage, induced by subcutaneous injection of 50% v/v carbon tetrachloride in liquid paraffin at a dose of 3 mL/kg on alternate days for a period of 4 weeks, were treated with methanol and aqueous extracts of A. lineata orally at a dose of 845 mg/kg/day. The biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase were estimated to assess the liver function. Histopathological studies of the liver were also carried out to confirm the biochemical changes. Histopathological examinations of liver tissue corroborated well with the biochemical changes. The activities of extracts were comparable to a standard drug. Hepatic steatosis, hydropic degeneration and necrosis were observed in the carbon tetrachloride treated group, while these were completely absent in the standard and extract treated groups. A. lineata extracts exhibited hepatoprotective action against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury. The present investigation established pharmacological evidence to support the folklore claim that it is used traditionally as a hepatoprotective agent. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.