Evaluation of the efficacy of Lawsonia alba in the alleviation of carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress

The hepatoprotective activity of the 50% ethanol extract of the bark of Law sonia alba syn. L. inermis was investigated against the carbon tetrachlorid e-induced oxidative stress. Pretreatment of rats with doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg of the plant extract significantly (P < 0.001) lowered serum transami nases (GOT and GPT) and LDH levels, respectively, in a dose dependent manne r against the significant (P < 0.001) rise of these damage marker enzymes w hen challenged with CCl4 (1 ml/kg, orally). Parallel to these changes, the plant extract prevented CCl4-induced oxidative stress by significantly main taining the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), its metabolizing enzymes a nd simultaneously inhibiting the production of free radicals. Pretreatment of rats with the extract also inhibited the peroxidation of microsomal lipi ds in a dose-dependent manner. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. AU ri ghts reserved.