Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Amaranthus gangeticus leaves against carbontetrachloride induced hepatic damage in albino rats

Abstract

Amaranthus gangeticus is a medicinal plant. Our aim is to investigate its organ protection property. Ethanolic extract of
Amaranthus gangeticus leaves was taken and the parameters studied were serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum
glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins and alkaline
phosphatase activities. Bio-chemical studies of blood samples of carbontetrachloride treated animals showed significant
increase in the levels of serum markers and decrease in high density lipoproteins reflecting the liver injury caused by
carbontetrachloride. Whereas, the animals treated with ethanolic extract of Amaranthus gangeticus showed significant dose
dependent decrease in the elevated levels of serum markers and increase in high density lipoproteins indicating the
protection of hepatic cells. Results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance by Dunnet’s ‘t’ test. Therefore ethanolic
extract afford significant protection against carbontetrachloride induced hepatocellular injury and remarkable rejuvenation
of these tissues found in histopathological studies which may be due to polyphenols and its antioxidant activities.