Abstract
This study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of Eclipta prostrata LINN. (EP) in ethanol induced rat hepatic injury. In the in vitro study, EP (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mg/ml) increased % MTT reduction and decreased the release of transaminases (ALT and/or AST) in rat primary cultured hepatocytes being treated with ethanol. Hepatotoxic markers studied in rats included serum transaminases (ALT and AST), serum triglyceride (STG), hepatic triglyceride (HTG), TNF-α and IL-1β together with histopathological examination. Pretreatment of rats with EP at oral dose of 10, 20, 30 mg/kg and silymarin (a reference hepatoprotective agent) at 5 mg/kg 4 h before ethanol (5 g/kg, p.o.) decreased the ethanol induced levels of ALT and/or AST. The 30 mg/kg EP dose gave the best result similar to SL. Treatment of rats with EP (30 mg/kg/day) or SL (5 mg/kg/day) for 7 days after 21 days with ethanol (4 g/kg/day, p.o.) enhanced liver cell recovery by bringing the levels of ALT, AST and IL-1β back to normal. Histopathological observations confirmed the beneficial roles of EP and SL against ethanol induced liver injury in rats. Possible mechanism may involve their antioxidant activity.
