Flavonoids and Hepatoprotective Activity of Leaves of Senna Surattensis (Burm.f.) In CCl4 Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

The flavonoidal content, as well as the antioxidant, cytotoxic and hepatoprotective activities of leaves of Senna surattensis (Caesalpiniaceae) were investigated. Quercetin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside 7-O-rahmnoside and rutin were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract. The structure elucidation was performed by UV, 1HNMR and 13CNMR spectroscopy. The cytotoxic activity of the ethanol extract (Up to 10 mg/ml) was tested against five human tumor cell lines namely; cervix (Hela), lung (H460), breast (MCF7), brain (U251) and liver (HepG2). The extract showed the highest activity against Hela cell line. The antioxidant activity was determined by radical scavenging activity of DPPH free radical using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. 0.5 mg/ml of the 80% ethanol extract resulted in 99% inhibition of the peak area of DPPH. For the investigation of the hepatoprotective activity, liver damage was induced to male albino rats by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. Liver damaged rats were pretreated with daily oral dose of 100 mg/kg of 80% ethanol extract for 1 month. Administration of the extract was continued after liver damage for another month. Silymarin (25mg/kg taken orally) was used as a positive control. Followed by an overnight fast, whole blood was obtained from the retro orbital venous plexus through the eye canthus of anesthetized rats. Blood samples were collected at zero time and 1 month before liver damage, and 72 hours and one month after liver damage. Serum ALT, AST and ALP were measured. The relative potencies of the extract with respect to silymarin in reducing serum AST, ALT and ALP after 30 days of administration were 90%, 85% and 87%, respectively. The significant reduction in AST, ALT and ALP in plasma indicates the efficacy of S. surattensis leaf extract as a hepatoprotective