Hepatoprotective property of Thespesia populnea against carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible hepatoprotective activities of the medicinal plant Thespesia populnea in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats. The water suspension (500 mg/kg b.wt.) of leaf, flower and stem bark of T. populnea showed varying levels of protective action against CCl4-induced liver damage as evidenced from significant reduction in the activities of serum marker enzymes for liver damage (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase), and bilirubin levels when compared with CCl4-intoxicated control rats. The stem bark suspension showed maximum hepatoprotection compared with leaf and flower. An ethanol extract of the stem bark was more active than n-hexane and water extracts, showing remarkable protection at a dose of 60 mg/kg b.wt. The hepatoprotective effect of this extract was almost comparable to that of silymarin (100 mg/kg), a reference herbal drug. Thus, the present study indicates that ethanol extract of T. populnea stem bark is promising for further studies leading to hepatoprotective drug development.