EVALUATION OF ANTIHEPATOTOXIC AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF Hiptage benghalensis IN CCl4 INDUCED ALBINO RATS

The hepatoprotective and anti-oxidant potential of ethanolic leaf extracts of Hiptage benghalensis was investigated against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in albino wistar rats. CCl4 induction resulted in an increase in serum aspartate transferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels indicating liver damage and a collective depletion in the levels of antioxidants superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and catalase which in turn led to increased LPO levels suggestive of loss of structural integrity in the hepatocytes when compared with the normal control groups. Treatment with ethanolic leaf extract of Hiptage benghalensis (ELEHb) in doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg bw. brought about a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the levels of serum enzymes, a significant increase (p<0.05) in the enzymatic antioxidant values and subsequent decrease of LPO levels.