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Glutamate (Glu) is a major excitatory aminoacid neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain. Under Certain Circumstances Glu can also exert toxic effects on neuronal Cells. To unravel the biochemical mechanisms of Glu‐induced acute neuronal injury, Glu 1μmol/1μl was microinjected into cerebral Cortex, striatum and hippocampus of adult rats and oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters were evaluated. The results show that the rate of lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in the above brain regions following Glu administration suggesting neuronal membrane damage and also the total and free sulfhydryl groups were significantly depleted, indicating altered red‐ox status of the cells. There was also alteration in the activity of antioxidant enzyme catalase in cerebral cortex. Some of the above Glu‐induced effects were reversed or modified by NMDA receptor antagonist MK‐801.

Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of Oxalis debilis Kunth in carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino mice.Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced by CCl 4 30% in olive oil (1 ml/kg intraperitoneally). Mice were treated with aqueous extract of O. debilis at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight orally for 14 days. There were two groups, pre-treatment (once daily for 14 days before CCl 4 intoxication) and post-treatment (2, 6, 24, and 48 hrs after CCl 4 intoxication). The observed effects were compared with a known hepatoprotective agent, silymarin.Results: Pre-treatment and post-treatment groups of aqueous extract of O. debilis significantly reduced elevated serum levels of serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin and increased the level of total protein as compared to CCl 4 -treated group. The histopathological study also confirms the hepatoprotection. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical analysis of the plant revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins. Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that O. debilis can be used as safe, cheap, and alternative preventive and protective drugs against liver injury. The protective effect observed could be attributed to the presence of various phytochemicals which are responsible for the restoration of liver damage.