HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF SCINDAPSUS OFFICINALIS FRUIT IN PARACETAMOL INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS

HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF SCINDAPSUS OFFICINALIS FRUIT IN PARACETAMOL INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS
Nikhil Shrivastava*1, Preeti Agrawal 2, Akanksha Khare 3, Sarlesh Rajput 2, Rajendra Singh Baghel 1, Satyendra Singh Baghel 1
Department of Pharmacology (Toxicology Research Division) 1, Department of Pharmaceutics 2, Shriram College of Pharmacy, S.R.G.O.C. Campus, AB Expressway Banmore, Madhya Pradesh, India
Community Health Center 3, Gaurihar Madhya Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT: Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott fruits are widely used in many parts of India for the treatment of various diseases. It is one of the plants used in Indian system of medicine which belongs to family Aracea. It has the significant antioxidant property due to presence of flavonoids and phenolic compound and has ability of cytoprotection due to antioxidant property. Hydroalcoholic extract (50%Ethanol) of Scindapsus officinalis fruit was prepared and evaluated for its hepatoprotective Potential against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Alteration in the levels of SGPT, SGOT, ALP, bilirubin, total protein and tissue GSH, GSSG and MDA were tested in both treated and untreated groups. SGPT, SGOT, ALP and bilirubin was enhanced significantly (p<0.05) in Paracetamol (2mg/kg B.wt.) treated group and total serum protein, tissue MDA rise and tissue level of GSH was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in Paracetamol (2mg/kg B. wt.) treated group. Pretreatment with Hydroalcoholic extract (50% Ethanol) of Scindapsus officinalis fruit (200mg/kg B. wt. and 400 mg/kg B. wt.) has brought back the altered levels of biochemical markers to the near normal levels. The histopathology of the liver tissue shows liver necrosis and the recovery is significant in HESO treated groups. Silymarin is used as standard drug. All statistics was done on SPSS windows Ver.16.0.

Keywords: Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.), Cytoprotection, Hydroalcoholic extract, SGPT, SGOT, ALP

INTRODUCTION: Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott. is one of the plant used in Indian system of medicine which belongs to family Araceae. The plant of Scindapsus officinalis is a large, stout, epiphytic and perennial climber with adventitious aerial roots growing on trees and rocks 1-3.The plant is growing in tropical part of India. It is common in the Midnapore district of west Bengal and cultivated vegetatively for its fruit, which is cut into transverse pieces, dried and used medicinally 4-6.

Fruit is very important part of the plant and accepted as raw drug of known properties in both Ayurvedic and Unani system of medicine. The fruit is reported to be useful as a diaphoretic, carminative stimulant, anthelmintic aphrodisiac, galactagogue, appetizer and also useful in the form of decoction in diarrhea, asthma and other affections supposed to be caused by Kafa 7-10.Anatomical/histological practice playing a unique role in the more detailed examination of crude drugs and can be used to confirm the structural features of the crude drugs. Quantitative microscopy and linear measurements are the other important aspects of the histological method 11. The histological approach to study plants and plants parts is helpful in the searching of specific microscopical characters and even some times it is helpful in the differentiation between two species of same genus. Based on this fact and since no complete anatomical data related to fruit is available so far.

The plant of Scindapsus officinalis is large climber with areal roots growing on trees and rocks. The fruit of Scindapsus officinalis is known as Gajpeepal in ayurveda. Gajpeepal consists of dried, transversely cut pieces of mature female spadix of Scindapsus officinalis (Fam. Araceae). It is found all along the sub-Himalayan tract between an altitude of 330-1000 m in West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and the Andaman Islands. Scindapsus officinalis have some therapeutic activities which are pharmacologically aprooved i.e. antioxidant activity, anti- inflammatory and analgesic, antihistaminic activity, antibacterial activity, antidiabetic activity 12.It has the significant antioxidant property due to presence of flavonoids and phenolic compound and has ability of cytoprotection due to antioxidant property 13. The liver plays a central role in transforming and clearing chemicals and is susceptible to the toxicity from these agents. Certain medicinal agents, when taken in overdoses and sometimes even when introduced within therapeutic ranges, may injure the organ. Other chemical agents, such as those used in laboratories and industries, natural chemicals (e.g. microcystins) and herbal remedies can also induce hepatotoxicity. Chemicals that cause liver injury are called hepatotoxins 14.

More than 900 drugs have been implicated in causing liver injury and it is the most common reason for a drug to be withdrawn from the market. Chemicals often cause subclinical injury to liver which manifests only as abnormal liver enzyme tests. Drug-induced liver injury is responsible for 5% of all hospital admissions and 50% of all acute liver failures 14.Scindapsus officinalis consists of secondary metabolites like flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, terpenes, etc. The folk lore claim of Scindapsus officinalis fruits are antidiabetic, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, galactagogue, stimulant, diaphoretic, antidiarrhoeal, carminative, expectorant, tonic, antiprotozoal, anticancer, sharpening hearing, aphrodisiac, cardiotonic and regulating the bowel and appetite. It is also used in dysentery,asthma, troubles of the throat, rheumatism, asthma, worm infestations, pharyngopathy, helminthiasis and bronchitis. There is scientific report for the evaluation of Hepatoprotective activity in Scindapsus officinalis fruit. Hence, the objective of the present study to investigate the Hepatoprotective Activity of Scindapsus Officinalis fruit in Paracetamol induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats.

MATERIAL & METHODS:Collection of plant material: The Scindapsus officinalis fruit will be collected from the local market of Haridwar, Uttarakhand state, India fruits are Identified and authenticated by Dr. Anil Mangal (Research officer Ayurveda) National Research institute for Ayurveda HRD, Gwalior (M.P). The voucher specimen no:srcp/2012/002 has been deposited at the herbarium unit of the department of pharmacognosy, Shriram college of pharmacy Banmore , morena. Preparation of extract: Fruits were shade dried and convert into course powder by using hand grinder and then sieved the powder by a sieve mesh size 12 for uniform particle size powder. Extract was prepared by cold maceration method. About 600 gm. of Powdered material extract with hydro alcoholic solvent (50% ethanol) with quantity of 4.00 liter for 72 hrs for extraction. After complete extraction the extract was concentrated by distilling of the solvents and then evaporated to dryness on water bath color of extract was observed and percentage yield was calculated on the air dried basis.