Hepatoprotective activity of Terminalia paniculata against paracetamol induced hepatocellular damage in Wistar albino rats

Objective:To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Terminalia paniculata against paracetamol induced hepatic damage in rats.Methods:The plant material was shade dried, powdered and extracted with ethanol.Liv 52 and silymarin were used as standard drugs and 2%gum acacia as a control(vehicle).Alteration in the levels of biochemical markers of hepatic damage like AST,ALT,ALP and lipid peroxides were tested,and phytochemical tests were also performed.Results:Paracetamol(2 g/kg) increased the serum levels of alanine aminotransfer (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and the lipid peroxides. Treatment of Liv 52,silymarin and ethanolic extract of Terminalia paniculata(200 mg/kg) altered levels of biochemical marker and showed significant hepatoprotective activity.Ethanolic extract revealed the presence of phenolic compound and flavanoids.Our findings suggested that ethanolic bark extract of Terminalia paniculata possessed hepatoprotective activity in a dose dependent manner.Conclusions:Terminalia paniculata possesses hepatoprotective activity.It could be an effective and promising preventive agent against PCT induced hepatotoxicity.

Wound healing activity of aqueous extract of Crotalaria verrucosa in Wistar albino rats

Objective:To evaluate the wound healing effect of aqueous extract of Crotalaria verrucosa(C. verrucosa) in rats.Methods:Three wound models including incision,excision and dead space wounds were used in this study.The parameters studied were breaking strength in incision models,granulation tissue dry weight,breaking strength and hydroxyproline content in dead space wounds,percentage of wound contraction and period of epithelialization in excision wound model.Results:Two doses of the extract with and without dexamethasone showed significant increases in mean hydroxyproline,total protein content and dry weight of granulation tissue but it was higher with dose 800 mg/kg comparing with the control.The dexamethasone treated group showed a significant(P【0.001) reduction in the wound breaking strength when compared to control group in incision type of wound model.Coadministration of C.verrucosa with dexamethasone significantly(P【0.001) increased the breaking strength compared to the dexamethasone treated only group.In excision wound model,the percentage of the wound contraction was significantly(P【0.01) increased by two doses of test extract on all the days except the lower dose which exhibited only on 12th,16th days of drug treatment and it also reversed the dexamethasone suppressed wound contraction.It significantly(P【0.001) reduced the time required for epithelialization and reversed the epithelialization delaying effect of dexamethasone (P【0.001).Conclusions:C.verrucosa was found to possess significant wound healing property. This was evident by decrease in the period of epithelialization,increase in the rate of wound contraction,skin breaking strength,and granulation tissue dry weight content.Hence C. verrucosa could be a good wound healing agent.