Influence of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Gongura) on the levels of circulatory lipid peroxidation products and liver marker enzymes in experimental hyperammonemia

Abstract

Hibiscus sabdariffa (Linn) (family Malvaceae), is an annual dicotyledonous herbaceous shrub plant popularly known as 'Gongura' in Hindi or 'Pulicha keerai' in Tamil, which is an indigenous edible medicinal plant used in Ayurvedic Medicine in India, China and Thailand. We have investigated the influence of Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf extract (HSEt) on the levels of circulatory ammonia, urea, lipid peroxidation products such as TBARS (thiobarbituric acid and reactive substances), HP (hydroperoxides) and liver marker enzymes such as AST (aspartate transaminase), ALT (alanine transaminase) and ALP (alkaline phosphatase), for its hepatoprotective effect in ammonium chloride induced hyperammonemia. Ammonium chloride treated rats showed a significant increase in the levels of circulatory ammonia, urea, AST, ALT, ALP, TBARS and HP. These changes were significantly decreased in rats treated with HSEt and ammonium chloride. Our results indicate that HSEt offers hepatoprotection by influencing the levels of lipid peroxidation products and liver markers in experimental hyperammonemia and this could be due to its free radical scavenging property and the presence of natural antioxidants. The exact mechanism has to be still investigated and the isolation of active constituents is required.