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Year: 2006 | Volume: 1 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 82 - 88
Ajay K. Gupta, Havagiray Chitme, Sujata K. Dass and Neelam Misra
Abstract
Hepatoprotective activity of Aqueous Ethanolic Extract (AET) of rhizome of mature Rauwolfia serpentina against paracetamol induced hepatic damage in rats was investigated. The effect of AET of rhizome of R. serpentina on blood and liver glutathione, Na+K+-ATPase activity, serum marker enzymes, serum bilirubin and thiobarbutiric acid reactive substances, liver glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-tranferase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, catalase activity and glycogen against paracetamol induced damage in rats have been studied with a view to elucidate possible mechanism behind its hepatoprotective action. It was interesting to observe that AET of rhizome of Rauwolfia has reversal effects on the levels of above-mentioned parameters in paracetamol hepatotoxicity. It was observed that AET extract of Rauwolfia is a promising hepatoprotective agent and this hepatoprotective activity of Rauwolfia may be due to its antioxidant and normalization of impaired membrane function activity. A possible mechanism behind the results is discussed.