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Abstract

The hepatoprotective potential of ethanolic extract of stem bark of Alstonia scholaris belonging to the family Apocynaceae and commonly known as Devil's tree or Saptaparni was assessed against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. It is an evergreen tropical tree native to the Indian sub-continent and Southeast Asia and contains various phytoconstituents like alkaloids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, and phenolic acids which have shown promising therapeutic potential. The hepatoprotective effect was assessed by evaluating the biochemical parameters like serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin and histopathological studies of the liver. Rats treated with ethanolic extracts of Alstonia scholaris in the dose of 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, evinced a considerable reduction in CCl 4 induced augmented serum enzyme levels (ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin) and also a considerable increase in total protein levels that was lowered by hepatotoxic compound used, comparable with Silymarin (standard drug). Alstonia scholaris was also able to significantly prevent the rise in MDA level as evident by the TBARS test for in-vivo lipid peroxidation. Histopathology of the extract-treated groups showed a lessening of the pathogenesis and revealed a marked reduction in hepatic injuries that was equivalent to the Silymarin-treated group. INTRODUCTION:Liver is the largest internal organ and also the largest gland of the body that is found in the upper right-hand part of the abdominal sac, below the diaphragm and on top of the stomach, right kidney and the intestines. Weighing about three pounds, it has a cone-like structure that is soft and pinkish-brown in colour 1 .