Eleusine indica L. possesses antioxidant activity and precludes carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-mediated oxidative hepatic damage in rats

Abstract

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of aqueous extract of Eleusine indica to protect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-induced hepatic injury in rats. Methods The antioxidant activity of E. indica was evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The total phenolic content of E. indica was also determined. Biochemical parameters [e.g. alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase and quinone reductase] were used to evaluate hepatic damage in animals pretreated with E. indica and intoxicated with CCl 4. CCl 4-mediated hepatic damage was also evaluated by histopathologically. Results E. indica extract was able to reduce the stable DPPH level in a dose-dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50) value was 2350 μg/ml. Total phenolic content was found to be 14.9 ± 0.002 mg/g total phenolic expressed as gallic acid equivalent per gram of extract. Groups pretreated with E. indica showed significantly increased activity of antioxidant enzymes compared to the CCl 4-intoxicated group (p<0.05). The increased levels of serum ALT and AST were significantly prevented by E. indica pretreatment (p<0.05). The extent of MDA formation due to lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced (p<0.05), and reduced GSH was significantly increased in a dose-dependently manner (p<0.05) in the E. indica-pretreated groups as compared to the CCl 4-intoxicated group. The protective effect of E. indica was further evident through decreased histopathological alterations in the liver. Conclusion The results of our study indicate that the hepatoprotective effects of E. indica might be ascribable to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging property. © The Japanese Society for Hygiene 2011.