HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF POLYGONUM PERSICARIA (LINN.) AQUEOUS EXTRACT ON CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS

Abstract

The role of Polygonum persicaria was investigated for the prevention of CCl4 induced liver damage. Twenty albino wistar rats were allotted to five groups i.e. control, CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity and hepatotoxicity with Polygonum persicaria treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. Rats were scarified after 14 days. Toxicity was performed using 12 rats. They were randomly divided into three groups i.e. control and treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg Polygonum persicaria and one group were treated with standard silymarin. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Mean serum AST, ALT, ALP levels and TB concentration, were significantly increased in CCl4 induced hepatotoxic group of rats compared to the control (P less than 0.001). However significant reduction in these parameters were found in groups treated with Polygonum persicaria. Anaemia was evident in the group received CCl4. The severe fatty changes in the livers of rats caused by CCl4 were decreased in the treated groups. Toxicity evaluation of similar doses of the plant revealed no alteration in the parameters measured above except in the higher dose few scattered fatty changes in the liver was present. Liver injury was confirmed by the histological changes.