Abstract

The aim of the present work was to investigate the in vivo hepatoprotective potential of coumarinolignoids (cleomiscosins A, B, and C) isolated from the seeds of C. viscosa. The study was performed against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Rats were divided into four groups. The animals of group I served as normal and was given only vehicle. Group II served as toxin control and administered with CCl 4 (50% solution liquid paraffin, 2 ml/kg intraperitoneally). The animals of group III received coumarinolignoids (50 mg/kg) for six days orally as well as CCl 4 (2 ml/kg) on 4 th day i.p. Similarly animals of group IV received silymarin (50 mg/kg) for six days orally as well as CCl 4 on 4 th day i.p. On 7 th day various parameters viz. serum glutamyl oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamyl pyruvate transaminase, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum bilirubin, liver glycogen were estimated and histopathology was performed. Additionally, acute oral toxicity of the said coumarinolignoids was carried out in swiss albino mice. The coumarinolignoids were found to be effective as hepatoprotective against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity as evidenced by in vivo and histopathological studies in small animals. Safety evaluation studies also exhibit that coumarinolignoids are well tolerated by small animals in acute oral toxicity study except minor changes in red blood cell count and hepatic protein content at 5000 mg/kg body weight as a single oral dose. Coumarinolignoids which is the mixture of three compounds (cleomiscosin A, B and C) is showing the significant protective effects against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity in small animals and also coumarinolignoids are well tolerated by small animals in acute oral study.