EFFECT OF RUBIA-CORDIFOLIA EXTRACT ON ACETAMINOPHEN AND CCL4-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY

The hepatoprotective activity of an aqueous-methanol extract of Rubia cordifolia (Rubiaceae) was investigated against acetaminophen and CCl4 -induced hepatic damage. Acetaminophen produced 100% mortality at a do se of 1g/kg in mice while pretreatment of animals with plant extract ( 500 mg/kg) reduced the death rate to 30%. Acetaminophen at a dose of 6 40 mg/kg produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the rise in se rum levels of GOT and GPT to 1447 +/- 182 and 899 +/- 201 IU/L (n=10) respectively, compared with respective control values of 97 +/- 10 and 36 +/- 11. Pretreatment of rats with plant extract (500 mg/kg) towere d significantly (p<0.005) the respective serum GOT and GPT levels to 1 61 +/- 48 and 73 +/- 29. Similarly, hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 (1.5 mL/k g; orally) raised the serum transaminases (GOT and GPT) levels to 422 +/- 102 and 354 +/- 74 IU/L (n=10) respectively compared with respecti ve control values of 99 +/- 15 and 29 +/- 08 IU/L. The same dose of pl ant extract (500mg/kg) was able to prevent significantly (p<0.01) the CCl4-induced rise in serum enzymes and the estimated values of GOT and GPT were 95 +/- 09 and 33 +/- 07 IU/L, respectively. Moreover, it pre vented CCl4-induced prolongation in pentobarbital sleeping time confir ming the hepatoprotective effects of the extract.