Hepatoprotective activity of Bacopa monnieri L. against ethanol - induced hepatotoxicity in rats

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that ethanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri aerial parts (EBM) protects against ethanol -induced liver injury in rats. Crude ethanolic extract of B. monnieri was investigated for hepatoprotective activity in albino rats at 300 mg/kg, orally and compared with standard drug Silymarin (25 mg/kg, PO). Results show that EBM was effective in blunting ethanol-induced enhanced activities of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), level of serum bilirubin (both total and direct), serum total cholesterol, liver weight loss and was also effective in reducing ethanol–induced lipid peroxidation both in vitro and in vivo. EBM on the other hand was found to enhance level of HDL cholesterol in ethanol-induced hepatotoxic rats. Furthermore, EBM could also blunt ethanol-induced suppressed activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and decreased level of reduced glutathione (GSH). Results of hepatocellular damage caused by ethanol and its recovery by EBM, suggest that it might be considered as a potential source of natural hepatoprotective agent, which could be related to the free radical scavenging properties of saponins present in high concentration in the extract.