Phytochemical
Analyses
On preliminary phytochemical screening,
the root bark of plant showed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and
anthraquinones. The preliminary screening using thin layer chromatography was
employed to specifically check for the presence of a flavonoid, baicalein.
Using reverse phase-HPLC analysis to quantify the baicalein present in the
extract, the results show that n-butanol fraction used in these
particular studies contained 11.56 % (w/w) baicalein (Khandhar et. al.,
2006). Therefore, in the present study, we used Oroxylum indicum root
bark for the screening of hepatoprotective activity.
Carbon
tetrachloride (CCl4) - induced hepatotoxicity
CCl4 administration resulted
in significant rise in enzymes activity of serum transaminases, alkaline
phosphatase alongwith decreased total protein content of the liver (Table-1,
3). Besides, CCl4- treatment also resulted into significant rise in
LPO alongwith significant fall in SOD, CAT, and reduced GSH levels as compared
to control (Table-2, 4).
Alcoholic extract (50%) of Oroxylum
indicum and its fractions petroleum ether and n-butanol (300 mg/kg b.w.,
p.o.) significantly (p<0.05) reduced serum enzymes SGOT, SGPT, ALT, and TB
levels (Table-1). In addition to above, these fractions, also showed
significant reduction (p<0.05) in LPO alongwith significant rise (p<0.05)
in SOD, CAT, and reduced GSH levels (Table-2). Maximum protection was observed
with the use of n-butanol fraction. The study was therefore, further extended
on another species, rats using lower dose of n-butanol fraction (100 mg/kg,
b.w.). Pretreatment with n-butanol fraction showed significant protection in
both serum enzyme levels and lipid peroxidation alongwith antioxidant enzyme
activity as shown in Table-3, 4.
Histopathological studies
The histologic analyses of the rats indicated in the
liver of the normal control group showed no sign of necrosis or degeneration
(Fig-1-a). Liver tissue obtained from the CCl
4-treated mice revealed
severe cell necrosis around central veins, fatty changes, wide spread
hepatocellular necrosis, kupffer cells, hyperplasia, centro-lobular necrosis
and steatosis (Fig-1-b). Examination of the isolated liver tissues of animals
indicated that the pretreated with different fractions (300 mg/kg of b.w.,
p.o.) showed microfatty changes with dense collection of lymphoid cells
suggesting evidence of very little necrosis or degeneration (Fig-1-d). There
was no significant hepatocellular damage. Only small areas of focal
degeneration and sinusoidal dilation were observed. Similar observations were
found with silymarin treated group of animals (Fig-1-c). Further, use of
the n-butanol fraction (100 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.) in rats also showed protection
in liver tissue that was evident from the normalcy of hepatic cells and
central vein (Fig-2).
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