Hepatoprotective potentials of Phyllanthus amarus against ethanol-induced oxidative stress in rats

The hepatoprotective effect of methanolic extract of the leaf of Phyllanthus amarus (P. amarus) against ethanol-induced oxidative damage was investigated in adult male Wistar albino rats. P. amarus (250 and 500 mg/kg/day) and ethanol (5 g/kg/day, 20% w/v) were administered orally to animals for 4 weeks and 3 weeks, respectively. Ethanol treatment markedly decreased the level of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in the liver, which were significantly enhanced by P. amarus treatment. Glutathione-S transferase (GST), which was increased after chronic ethanol administration, was significantly reduced by P. amarus treatment in the liver. Also, P. amarus significantly increased the activities of hepatic alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), with a concomitant marked reduction in the plasma activity of the transaminases in the ethanol-challenged rats. Lipid peroxidation level, which was increased after chronic ethanol administration, was significantly reduced in the liver by P. amarus co-treatment. Results show that P. amarus leaf extract could protect the liver against ethanol-induced oxidative damage by possibly reducing the rate of lipid peroxidation and increasing the antioxidant defence mechanism in rats.