The present study was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of methanolic extract of Aegle marmoles leaves (AMLE) against isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial damage in rats. Rats of either sex were administered AMLE (100 and 500 mg/kg) for three weeks and propranolol (PRO, 10 mg/kg) for one week in their respective groups orally. Subsequently myocardium injury was induced by subcutaneous administration of isoproterenol (150 mg/kg) for two consecutive days. The influence of prophylactic treatment was analysed by quantification of biomarkers and antioxidants. The CK-MB activities were fallen in serum and raised in heart tissue of animals treated with low and high doses of AMLE as well as PRO compared to ISO control. However, low dose of AMLE did not demonstrate any significant change in serum and tissue LDH activity when compared to ISO control. Further, high and low doses of AMLE caused significant elevation in SOD and CAT activities compared to ISO control. Furthermore, TBARS level declined in heart tissues of animals treated with PRO and high doses of AMLE, whereas, low dose of AMLE was not equally potent. Hence it is concluded that the low dose of AMLE was less effective than the high dose of AMLE and PRO.

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A high percentage of the people living in developing countries use traditional medicines including medicinal herbs to meet their primary health care needs for various ailments including heapatic damage. Traditionally, the fruits of Zizyphus jujube extract have been used in Indian and Chinese system of medicine to strengthen liver function. However, there is no scientific evidence for confirming the efficacy of this herb. Hence, present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Zizyphus jujube fruit (MEZJ) on acute (0.5 ml/kg, p.o.) and chronic (0.2 ml/kg, p.o. twice weekly for eight weeks) models of liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) in rats. The MEZJ was administered orally at three different doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg for eight weeks and ten days in chronic and acute models, respectively. The MEZJ (250 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly decreased levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin in serum and increased the same in LTH in the chronic model. In acute liver injury, MEZJ (250 mg/kg, p.o.) and MEZJ (500 mg/kg, p.o.) altered biochemical markers in both serum and LTH indicating hepatoprotective effect. The MEZJ (250 mg/kg, p.o.) also showed significant rise in SOD and catalase activities in both chronic and acute models, while MEZJ (500 mg/kg, p.o.) caused elevation in antioxidant enzyme activities only in the acute model. The histopathological studies supported the biochemical findings. It is concluded that MEZJ possess good hepatoprotective effect at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg orally, whereas, 1000 mg/kg was found to be non-effective in preventing the hepatic damage.