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Combined Hepatoprotective Activity of Murraya koenigii and Phyllanthus niruri Extracts Against Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Alcoholic Rats

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study elucidated the hepatoprotective activity of combination of alcohol water extracts (AWEs) of Murraya koenigii (AWEMK) and Phyllanthus niruri (AWEPN) leaves against paracetamol induced hepatic damage in ethanol exposed rats. Phytochemical analysis of AWEs determined the presence of flavonoids and phenols, followed by high performance liquid chromatography determination of an important antioxidant tannic acid in AWEMK and a major bioactive lignan phyllanthin in AWEPN. Gas chromatography mass spectrometric analysis revealed the presence of carbazole alkaloids in AWEMK whereas AWEPN was found rich in sterols. Prolonged consumption of ethanol has been reported to enhance the hepatic damage caused by paracetamol overdose by induction of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) in alcohol abusers. Oral administration of alcohol (5 ml/kg/day) for three days followed by paracetamol (500 mg/kg, b.i.d.) for another 3 days produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the significant (P < 0.01) rise in levels of liver function tests and a marked increase in lipid peroxidation associated with significant reduction of the hepatic GSH and superoxide dismutase activity as compared with respective control values. Post-treatment of rats with silymarin (200 mg/kg), AWEMK (500 mg/kg), AWEPN (500 mg/kg) and combination of AWEMK and AWEPN (250 mg/kg each) for one week significantly (P < 0.01) inhibited these biochemical alterations which were confirmed by histopathological examination of the liver. Among all the treatment groups, the combination of extracts showed significant reversal of hepatic damage thus accentuating its hepatoprotective potential and immense value for use as a hepatoprotectant.

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Acknowledgments

A special thanks is owed to Dr. A.H. Ahmed for providing his guidance and help during the whole study. Special gratitude is expressed towards Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for providing research fellowship for carrying out the research work.

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  1. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, US Nagar, Uttarakhand, 263145, India

    Pallavi Shah, Atul Kumar Gupta & Anil Kumar

  2. Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, US Nagar, Uttarakhand, 263145, India

    S. P. Singh

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  1. Pallavi Shah
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Correspondence to Anil Kumar.

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Shah, P., Singh, S.P., Gupta, A.K. et al. Combined Hepatoprotective Activity of Murraya koenigii and Phyllanthus niruri Extracts Against Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Alcoholic Rats. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 88, 655–665 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-016-0800-5

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