Screening of hepatoprotective effect of methanolic extract of Solanum nigrum against paracetamol

Solanum nigrum (SN) commonly known as “Makoo” frequently available in most of the areas of Pakistan, is well reputed in the indigenous system of medicine for its medicinal use in liver disorders. The present study was aimed to evaluate its traditional use in liver diseases using in-vivo model of rabbits. The crude methanolic extract of the aerial parts of the Solanum nigrum  (SN.CEA) was investigated for its hepatocurative and hepatoprotective activities in paracetamol intoxicated (2g/Kg) rabbits. Rabbits were divided into three groups, normal control (saline treated) hepatotoxic control (paracetamol treated) and remaining one was hepatotoxic treated with the SN.CEA (400 mg/kg) for 6-12 days. Similarly, for hepatoprotective effect rabbits were divided in 3 groups; one serving as control another as hepatotoxic and last one as treated with SN.CAE. Group 2 nd and 3 rd were intoxicated with paracetamol at 6 th day of the treatment with SN.CEA. Increased serum transaminases (sGOT and sGPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels along with raised sleeping span and blood clotting time were observed in hepatotoxic rabbits. In both cases (hepatocuration and hepatoprotection) SN.CEA caused significantly reduction in all the above serum markers for liver functioning and caused significant reduction in the sleeping time of treated rabbits vs hepatotoxic untreated group. These data suggests that the presence of hepatocurative and hepatoprotective constituents in Solanum nigrium rationalizes its medicinal use in liver dysfunction