STUDIES ON PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF CYPERUS-SCARIOSUS EXTRACT ON ACETAMINOPHEN AND CCL4-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY

1. The hepatoprotective activity of aqueous-methanolic extract of Cype rus scariosus (Cyperaceae) was investigated against acetaminophen and CCl4-induced hepatic damage. 2. Acetaminophen produced 100% mortality at a dose of 1 g/kg in mice while pretreatment of animals with plant e xtract (500 mg/kg) reduced the death rate to 30%. 3. Acetaminophen at a dose of 640 mg/kg produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the rise in serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate oxaloac etate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) to 430 +/- 68, 867 +/- 305 and 732 +/- 212 IU/l (n = 10) respectively, co mpared to respective control values of 202 +/- 36, 59 +/- 14 and 38 +/ - 7. 4. Pretreatment of rats with plant extract (500 mg/kg) significan tly lowered (P < 0.05) the respective serum ALP, GOT and GPT levels to 192 +/- 31, 63 +/- 9 and 35 +/- 8. 5. The hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 (1 .5 ml/kg; orally) raised serum ALP, GOT and GPT levels to 328 +/- 30, 493 +/- 102 and 357 +/- 109 IU/l (n = 10) respectively, compared to re spective control values of 177 +/- 21, 106 +/- 15 and 47 +/- 12. 6. Th e same dose of plant extract (500 mg/kg) was able to significantly pre vent (P < 0.05) CCl4-induced rise in serum enzymes and the estimated v alues of ALP, GOT and GPT were 220 +/- 30, 207 +/- 95 and 75 +/- 38, r espectively. 7. The plant extract also prevented CCl4-induced prolonga tion in pentobarbital sleeping time confirming hepatoprotectivity. 8. These results indicate that the Cyperus scariosus possesses hepatoprot ective activity and thus, rationalizes the folkloric use of this plant in hepato-biliary disorders.