Hepatoprotective and cardiac inhibitory activities of ethanolic extracts from plant leaves and leaf callus of Eclipta alba

Abstract

The present study deals with hepatoprotective activity observed with ethanolic extracts of plant leaves and leaf callus of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. The model used was carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in albino rats. In addition, cardiac inhibitory activity on isolated frog heart was examined. Liver damage was assessed by quantifying serum activities such as serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transanlinase (SGOT), serum albumin, serum total protein, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALPH), liver weight and histopathological examination. The results indicated that oral administration of ethanolic extracts at the dose levels of 250 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, respectively, exhibited a significant hepatoprotective effect on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injuries. Hepatic lesions caused by CCl4 were improved by treatment with both ethanolic extracts, and were compared to Amlycure (commercial Indian herbal hepatoprotective formulation) as a standard reference medicine. When examined for cardiac inhibitory activity with isolated frog heart, i.e., the extracts showed negative ionotropic and negative chronotropic effects as well as reduction in cardiac output. Callus extract (20 rag) produced a higher cardiac inhibitory activity than that of leaf extracts (20 mg). Furthermore, the callus extract was found to antagonise the effect of adrenaline. Plant leaves and leaf calli contain coumestans including wedelolactone and demethylwedelolactone.