Abstract

Cucumis sativus (Cucumber), a very commonly used plant in India and Pogostemon patchouli (Patchouli), a herb from traditional Chinese medicine have been screened earlier for antioxidant activity which is considered to be basic action required for an organ protective action. The present study was aimed to evaluate hepatoprotective potential of Cucumis sativus and Pogostemon patchouli against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. A single i.p injection of 1ml of CCl₄ /kg body weight in olive oil (1:1) induced liver marker enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), bilirubin (TBIL) and distorted the hepatic tissue architecture along with increased levels of lipid peroxides (LPO) and reduction of total protein (TPROT), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in liver tissue. Treatment groups receiving higher doses of both plant extracts significantly (p<0.01) restored the levels of all biochemical parameters and antioxidant system of the body towards standard control. Extent of lipid peroxidation was also found to be less (p<0.05), restoring the structural integrity of hepatocytes as compared to disease group. Silymarin was used as standard drug. Result interpretation supported hepatoprotective role biochemically and histologically. Thus above plants can be further studied for isolation of responsible active components, deducing possible way of mechanism of action of these plants in liver protection.