Abstract
In rural India, Phyllanthus niruri is mainly used as the traditional medicine for the treatment of liver disorders. The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Phyllanthus niruri on the induction of oxidative hepatic damage by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in male Swiss albino mice. Single dose of 0.2 ml/kg of CCl4 along with vehicle alternatively for 15 days and 100 mg/kg of Phyllanthus niruri plant extract was orally administered for 20 days. Liver damage was assessed by the estimation of serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and asparate aminotransferase (AST).
Results indicated a significant increase in the level of liver enzymes like ALT, AST, ALP and bilirubin content 273.6 +/- 2.40, 98.60 +/- 2.13, 248.6 +/- 4.87 U/L and 6.5 +/- 0.16 mu mol/L in CCl4 intoxicated animals when compared with that of the control group of mice 120.8 +/- 2.87, 42.73 +/- 1.98, 173.5 +/- 3.24 U/L and 0.6 +/- 0.02 mu mol/L respectively. Haematological investigations (RBC count, PVC, Hb, WBC count and Platelet count) did not reveal any significant changes among the different groups whereas histological examination confirmed that the liver hepatocytes arranged in one cell thickness indicated the curative effect of cystic fibrosis, a mild inflammatory change and greater area of regeneration. The reduction in body weight was minimal and liver enlargement was also less compared to the animals in toxic control group. Overall results indicated that the aqueous extract of P. niruri possesses hepatoprotective effects which can be used in treatment of liver diseases.