HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF APONOGETON NATANS (LINN.) ENGL. AND KRAUSE – AN IMPORTANT FOLKLORE MEDICINE

The liver plays a significant role in metabolism and detoxification. Aponogeton natans(Linn.) Engl. and Krause is a important ingredient in preparation of an important Ayurvedic preparation Useerasava. The screening for hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity was followed as per standard procedure. Animals received CCl₄ (2 ml/kg, 1:1 in olive oil, i.p.) to induce hepatotoxicity. Group I served as normal control and received the vehicle alone. Group II served as toxic control, Group III, IV, V, VI received 200 mg/kg of petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, methanol extracts respectively and Group VII was treated with silymarin. The groups received the pre-treatment of A. natans extracts ANME and ANCE at dose levels of 200 mg/kg body weight significantly controlled the change in the biochemical parameters. The methanol extract (ANME) and chloroform extract (ANCE) at dose levels of 200 mg/kg exhibited significant increase respectively in the serum total protein level as compared to toxic control group and the effect was compared with the standard group treated with silymarin (Sily-100). The LPO, SOD, Catalase (CAT) and GPx activities in the toxic control group depleted significantly as compared to the normal control group. The antioxidants activity increased by ANME, ANCE and standard drug silymarin. Treatment with A. natans methanol extract increased the level of biochemical parametrs activities when compared to toxic control. A. natans methanol extract was found to significantly increase the level of antioxidants levels. The level of LPO which was elevated brought to normal. The above results were further supported by histopathological evidences.