Hepatoprotective potential of Saraca ashoka (Roxb.) De Wilde bark by carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats

Objective:Saraca ashoka [SA] (Family: Caesalpiniaceae) is widely used in skin infection, CNS function, uterus pain during painful periods, in bacterial infection and for hepatoprotective activity. The present study was carried out to investigate possible hepatoprotective activity of methanolic and hydroalcoholic extract of Saraca ashoka stem bark.Methods: Hepatoprotective activity of hydroalcoholic and methanolic extract of stem bark of S. ashoka (HAESA and MESA) was demonstrated by using CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity model. Normal group was given only vehicle and CCl4 was given at 0.5 mL/kg, s.c. as toxic dose to induce hepatotoxicity. Liv-52 was given as standard drug (1 mL/kg/day, p.o.). Two doses of MESA and HAESA (200 and 400 mg/kg/day, p.o.) were tested for hepatoprotective activity for nine days.Results: Administration of hepatoxin CCl4 showed significant biochemical and histological deterioration in the liver of experimental animals. Pretreatment with methanolic extract more significantly and to a lesser extent hydroalcoholic extract reduced the elevated levels of serum enzymes like serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and reversed the hepatic damage which evidenced the hepatoprotective activity of stem bark of S. ashoka.Conclusion: The results suggest that MESA and HAESA extracts at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. have a significant effect on the liver of CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity animal model.