This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of the ethanol extract of Vitex glabrata (EEVG) in a CCl(4)-induced liver damage model in rats; and to isolate and characterise the bioactive constituent from EEVG. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated by changes in the levels of the serum enzymes viz. AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin, and further by histopathological examinations of liver tissues. Antioxidant activity was measured in terms of superoxide dismutase, GSH, lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase and peroxidase levels in liver homogenate. The pentamethoxy flavonoid artemetin was isolated and characterised from EEVG. Artemetin and EEVG pre-treatment significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited LPO in CCl(4)-intoxicated livers and reduced the elevated serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin to normal; it also brought back the normal architecture of liver tissues. Antioxidant activity of EEVG was found to be comparable with silymarin (p < 0.05). In conclusion, EEVG possesses significant hepatoprotective activity, which may be mediated by the antioxidant mechanisms of its components, predominantly artemetin.

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