Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective activity of Anaphyllum wightii Schott.

Abstract

Herbal medicines have traditionally been used worldwide for the prevention and treatmentof liver disease with fewer adverse effects. The tubersof Anaphyllum wightiiplant were chosen andstudied for their antioxidant activity in vitro and hepatoprotective activity in vivo. The antioxidant activity of the chloroform extract was examined in vitro using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) freeradical scavenging assay and super oxide scavenging assay. The extract had significant dose-dependent antioxidant activity in all in vitro experiments. The percentage of free radical scavenging by DPPH and super oxide scavenging assay values of Anaphyllum wightiiand ascorbic acid (standard) were found to be 49.02±4.11, 60.20±3.43 and 72.78±3.97 respectively. Hepatoprotective activity of the plant extract was evaluated in a rat model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)induced liver damage. CCl₄ significantly altered serum marker enzymes, total bilirubin, total protein, and liver weight. The extract caused these values to return to normal in rats with CCl₄induced liver damage. This indicated the hepatoprotective potential ofAnaphyllum wightiiand was comparable to use of the standard drug silymarin. Thus, the present study revealed that Anaphyllum wightii have significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity.