Ameliorative effect of Ficus dalhousiae Miq. (Moraceae) methanolic leaf extract on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic and renal toxicity

Abstract

Developing traditional medicine in the field of hepatology and nephrology research is the key to pharmacology. This study demonstrates the mechanism of hepatoprotective and renal protective activity of Ficus dalhousiae Miq. (Moraceae) methanolic leaf extract on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic and renal toxicity. Shade dried powder was subjected to shoxlet extraction with methanol and assessed for hepatoprotective and renal protective activities. Hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity were induced in rats by single oral dose of CCl 4 diluted with olive oil (1:1 v/v; ml/kg body weight) after pretreatment of methanolic extract for seven days. Sixteen hrs after CCl 4 administration, rats were sacrificed and biochemical markers like Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) estimated followed by the measurement of liver and kidney cytosolic antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The data were analysed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The extract at the doses of 150 and mg/kg b.w. significantly reduces elevated levels of ALT, AST, ALP and LDH. The extracts also showed significant increase in the reduced level of SOD, CAT and GSH. The ROS activity also found down regulated. The activity of methanolic extracts were comparable with the standard Silymarin. These findings not only showed potential hepatoprotective and renal protective activities of Ficus dalhousiae but also manifested by restoring antioxidant enzymes. With this pilot study we can justify the medicinal importance of this plant.