Hepatoprotective Effect of Cestrum Parqui L. Aerial Parts and Phytochemical Profile

Abstract

This study deals with the investigation of hepatoprotective effect of 70% methanolic extract from Cestrum parqui aerial parts and determination of the bioactive components of the plant. The hepatoprotective effect of Cestrum parqui methanol extract (100, 500, 1000 mg/kg) was analysed on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver injury. The administration of a single dose of 40% CCl₄ (1ml/kg b.w.) causes an increase in the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspirate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes and so pretreated orally of a dose from Cestrum parqui methanol extract (100, 500, 1000 mg/kg) and silymarin (200 mg/kg) for three consecutive days prior to The administration of a single dose of CCl₄ significantly prevented the increase in the activities of these enzymes. Histological analysis showed that Cestrum parqui methanol extract at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg and silymarin reduced the incidence of liver lesions including vacuole formation, neutrophil infiltration and necrosis of hepatocytes induced by CCl₄. The extract cause a negative result on the antioxidative enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRd) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) level in liver, as compared to those in the CCl₄-treated group and this suggests that the hepatoprotective activity of the extract is due to the antioxidant effect of the extract. Phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract from Cestrum parqui aerial parts showed that it contained different phytoconstituents, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, terpenes and carbohydrates.