Protective effects of Asystasia chelonoides var. chelonoides Nees. (Acanthaceae) leaf extracts against Paracetamol‐induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

The ethanolic leaf extract of Asystasia chelonoides var. chelonoides Nees. was evaluated for the hepatoprotective properties against Paracetamol overdosage in Wistar rats. Paracetamol administration caused severe hepatic damage in rats as evidenced by the elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin. Hepatoprotective potential of the plant extract was evident from the normalized biochemical parameters of hepatic injury like ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, SB, TGL, TC and TP along with the estimation of antioxidant status of the liver tissue (levels of Catalase, Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione and Malondialdehyde levels). The histopathological studies of liver samples showed recovery from Paracetamol-induced necrosis with almost normalized hepatic architecture in A. chelonoides extract-treated animals. The hepatoprotective effects exhibited by plant extract might be mediated through the inhibition of microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes and in conclusion, the findings of the present study suggest that A. chelonoides leaf extract possesses potent hepatoprotective effect against Paracetamol induced hepatic damage in Wistar rats.