Hepatoprotective Evaluation of Biophytum umbraculum Leaf Against Paracetamol and Alcohol Induced Hepatic Damage in Male Wistar Rats

Author: Raja Chandra G. and Raunak Dhanker

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Abstract

The liver assists in intestinal digestion and performs a diverse variety of functions including bile secretion, bilirubin metabolism, metabolic detoxification, nutrient storage, and metabolism along with other vascular, hematological, and endocrine functions. Liver disease in acute conditions displays hepatitis, steatosis, or both which when left untreated progresses from fibrosis and then to cirrhosis whereas, in chronic conditions, it displays jaundice, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, portal disease, etc. Many synthetic-based drugs have been used to treat liver disorders; however, these medications have negative side effects such as despair, insomnia, vomiting, and constipation. More studies on plants and herbs that might replace chemical-based medications are necessary. The current study focussed on assessing the hepatoprotective activity of Biophytum umbraculum. Plant-derived active moieties with their ability to capture free radicals are known to challenge pathophysiological events making them prophylactic as well as curative via phytotherapy. The biochemical constituents reported from Biophytum umbraculum include primary components, antioxidants, and antinutrients along with secondary metabolites. This study enumerated the hepatoprotection offered by Biophytum umbraculum leaf extract against the paracetamol and alcohol induced hepatocellular damage after examining the acute toxicrange of the extract. Levels of biochemical parameters namely glucose, cholesterol, serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, along with total and direct bilirubin revealed adequate protection offered by Biophytum umbraculum leaf extract (BULE). Tissue estimates revealed inhibition of lipid peroxidase (LPO) enzyme activity at p > 0.05 in both paracetamol and alcohol induced hepatotoxicity, prominent antioxidant potential through reduced glutathione (GSH) with p ≤ 0.001 in paracetamol, and p ≤ 0.0001 in alcohol induced hepatotoxic animal models while a non-significant upsurge of superoxide dismutase (SOD) at p>0.05 was observed in both paracetamol and alcohol induced hepatotoxicity. All the results accompanied the histopathological evidence in showing dose-dependent protection offered by Biophytum umbraculum leaf extract with mild to no signs of necrosis.

Keywords

Liver, phytotherapy, Biophytum umbraculum, hepatoprotection, necrosis

Conclusion

The results in the present study have specified that the leaf extract of Biophytum umbraculum has antioxidant potential that offers significant protection against paracetamol induced and alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar rats and elaborative research on the mechanisms at the molecular level would be conclusive to justify the hepatoprotective action of Biophytum umbraculum leaf extract (BULE).

References

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How to cite this article

Raja Chandra G. and Raunak Dhanker (2023). Hepatoprotective Evaluation of Biophytum umbraculum Leaf Against Paracetamol and Alcohol Induced Hepatic Damage in Male Wistar Rats. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 356-366.