An Evaluation of the Potency ofOsbeckia octandraandMelothria maderaspantanaas Antihepatotoxic Agents

Abstract

Aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of Melothria maderasptana and the leaves of Osbeckia octandra have been compared with (+)-3-cyanidanol with regard to their abilities to alleviate carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver dysfunction in albino rats by comparing the abilities of these drugs to protect the liver against CCl4-mediated alterations in the liver histopathology and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alkaline amino-transferase (GPT), and alkaline phosphatase. In both pretreatment and post-treatment (administration of drugs before or after CCl4 treatment) experiments, the most marked rate of recovery of the liver was exhibited by the group of rats treated with Melothria maderaspatana extract. Although the protection offered by (+)-3-cyanidanol and Osbeckia octandra appears to be comparable in post-treatment, Osbeckia was significantly more effective in pre-treatment. From the overall results obtained it appears that the aqueous extracts of Melothria maderaspatana and Osbeckia octandra are both as potent or in some instances (in pretreatment experiments) more potent than (+)-3-cyanidanol. Of the two plants tested under the present experimental conditions used, Melothria maderaspatana appears to be marginally more effective than Osbeckia octandra in protecting the liver against CCl4-induced alterations.

Protective effect of Asteracantha longifolia extract in mouse liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride and paracetamol

“…The histopathological observations showing a faster regeneration of hepatic cells in mice seem to suggest the possibility of these plant extracts being able to condition the hepatic cells to a state of accelerated regeneration, thus decreasing the leakage of ALT, AST and ALP into the circulation (Jayatilaka et al 1989(Jayatilaka et al , 1990. The observed protective effect of Asteracantha against the hepatotoxins may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, sterols, betulin and aliphatic esters among the plant constituents (Misra et al 2001).…”

“…In several plants with hepatoprotective properties the crude drug effect is known to be mediated by the action of a number of different active components, the potencies of the individual active principles being less than that of the crude extract (Jayatilaka et al 1989).…”

Protection against galactosamine and tert‐butyl hydroperoxide induced hepatocyte damage by Melothria maderaspatana extract

“…Certain traditional medical practitioners also use an extract of this plant for the alleviation of jaundice due to liver disease, although no proper clinical trials have yet been conducted to prove its therapeutic efficacy. Previous in uiuo investigations (Thabrew et al, 1988;Jayatilaka et al, 1989; have confirmed that an aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Melothria maderaspatana can protect against liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCI,). The plant extract significantly reduced the increase in serum liver enzymes, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase and also alkaline phosphatase with lessening of the degree of liver damage assessed histologically compared with control animals given CCI4 alone.…”

Phytopharmacological Properties of Melothria Maderaspatana: A Review

“…They found that M. maderaspatana works more effectively in protecting the liver against CCl 4 -induced dysfunction [24]. Veeramani et al tested the renal defensive effect of C 4 H 8 O 2 (ethyl acetate) fraction of M. maderaspatana leaf on uninephrectomized DOCA-salt hypersensitive rats.…”