Antioxidant and protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Celtis australis L. on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity

Several human diseases including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurodegenerative and hepatic diseases are related to the destructive effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antioxidants may provide a possible solution to this problem. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Celtis australis on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The antioxidant activity of C. australis was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. For evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of the extract, the animals were pretreated with 200 and 400 mg/kg of C. australis extract intraperitoneally for 7 days and then received CCl4 (0.5 ml/kg in olive oil). Liver injury was determined by serum biochemical parameters such as Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutathione contents of liver tissue, and histopathological studies. A significant reduction in the serum biochemical parameters was observed when compared to the CCl4 receiving group. The standard antioxidant used in the study was ascorbic acid. C. australis extract significantly suppressed the increase in plasma activities of liver enzymes and effectively protected animals against CCl4-induced hepatic tissue damages. This study confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of C. australis.