THE ETHANOL EXTRACT OF EUPHORBIA HETEROPHYLLA PROTECTS LIVER CELLS AGAINST ETHANOL-INDUCED TOXICITY DUE TO ITS ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIALS IN WISTAR RATS

Background: The herbal drugs used in traditional medicine are proven more effective and safe compared to synthetic drugs for managing lifestyle diseases, including liver toxicity. Objective: The present investigation aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective potentials of ethanol extract of Euphorbia heterophylla leaves against ethanol-induced liver damage in rats. Methodology: The acute oral toxicity study was conducted according to guidelines No 425 prescribed by OECD. The extract was proved safe up to 2000mg/kg. Ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats model was used to assess the protective properties of ethanol extract of Euphorbia heterophylla. The serum, such as (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, albumin, total protein, ions was determined. And other parameters like clotting time, liver weight, liver histopathology, and liver antioxidant enzymes were also examined. Results: In toxic control animals treated with ethanol alone, there were variations in the parameters mentioned above. But in the animals treated with ethanol extract of Euphorbia heterophylla (EEEH) and standard drug silymarin, all the parameters were normal, possibly due to their beneficial property in protecting the liver against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: The results of the present research study suggest that the ethanol extract of Euphorbia heterophylla possesses significant hepatoprotective activity.