Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of Mussaenda erythrophylla Lam. Stem Extracts against Carbon Tetrachloride – Induecd Toxicity in Rats

Mussaenda erythrophylla (Rubiaceae) is a plant to western tropical Africa that is occasionally seen as an ornamental plant in Indian gardens and parks. The present study was conducted to evaluate the Hepatoprotective activity of ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of M. erythrophylla (ME) Stem against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in Wistar albino rats. Ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of ME (100,200 mg/kg. per oral), were administered respectively, Silymarin (25 mg/kg. per oral.) was given as reference standard. In animals, the stem extracts were effective in preventing CCl4-induced liver injury. This was evident from significant reduction in serum enzyme, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Total bilirubin (TB). In CCL4-treated rats, pathological alterations such as centribular necrosis and vacuolization were identified, with significant protective activity in ME and silymarin-treated groups. According to the results of the study, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of ME have hepatoprotective efficacy against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.