Antioxidant Activity of Eclipta alba L. in Normal Rat Liver

The present study investigated the antioxidant potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of the aerial parts Eclipta alba L. Hassk (EA) which was widely used as hepatoprotective plant. EA was orally administered at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg (n=6) for 7 days in male Charles Foster rats. The extent of hepatoprotective potential of E. alba was studied by assessing the biochemical parameters like lipid peroxides (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol in the liver of rats. Oral administration of the EA significantly decreased LPO and elevated the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, GPx and GR as well as endogenous levels of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol in the liver of male Charles Foster rats. This study has revealed the significant antioxidant potential of E. alba in rat liver.