K THİRUPATHİ, S SATHESH KUMAR, P GOVARDHAN, B RAVİ KUMAR, D RAMA KRİSHNA, G KRİSHNA MOHAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sciencia - 2006;48(3):213-222
The methanolic extract of fruits of Momordica dioica (MMD) 300mg/kg and 500mg/kg were studied for hepatoprotective action in male Wistar rats by inducing liver damage using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The protective effect of MMD was compared with the standard drug silymarin. Various biochemical parameters like aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total serum bilirubin, lipid peroxide, glutathione and total antioxidants levels were evaluated. The results revealed that the MMD (300mg/kg) significantly reduced the AST (7.24%, P<0.01), ALT (7.88%, P<0.01), lipid peroxide levels (16.53%, P<0.05) and total serum bilirubin (30.23%, P<0.05). MMD (500mg/kg) significantly reduced the AST (11.59%, P<0.001), ALT (12.59%, P<0.001), lipid peroxide levels (24.80%, P<0.01) and total serum bilirubin (34.10%, P<0.01). The antioxidant parameters, glutathione and total antioxidant levels were increased considerably when compared to the levels of toxic group although they were statistically insignificant. The hepatoprotective activity of MMD (500mg/kg) was comparable with silymarin (100mg/kg). The result suggests that the hepatoprotective action of the MMD may be due to the presence of its phytoconstituents like steroids and triterpenoids.
