Abstract

PROTECTIVE AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF THE INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANT FICUS GLOMERATA IN CCL4-INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE

Kirankumar Shivasharanappa, and Ramesh Londonkar

Abstract

Ficus glomerata Roxb (Moraceae) is widely distributed medicinal plant, used in traditional system of medicine. The present work is carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Methanolic extract of Ficus glomerata Roxb fruits. Fruit powder was defatted with petroleum ether and chloroform. Hepatotoxicity was induced by two dose of CCl4 (2ml/kg). Methanolic extract at the dose level of 150 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg body weight was administered orally for 7 days. The effect of extracts on liver marker enzymes, antiradical enzymes and architecture of hepatocytes was measured. There is a significant increase (P< 0.05) in the levels of reduced liver marker enzymes and antiradical enzymes due to oxidative stress; the histopathological study reveals that the regeneration of damaged hepatic cells in the test animals. These results indicate that the F. glomerata is a potent source of hepatoprotection.

Keywords: Ficus glomerata, Hepatoprotection, Antioxidant, Oxidative stress, CCl4.