ANTIINFLAMMATORY AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF VENTILAGO-LEIOCARPA

Two animal experiments models including carrageenin-induced oedema and CCl4-induced liver injury were investigated to compare and elucidate antiinflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of four fractions (CHCl3, EtOAc, n-BuOH, H2O) from the stem bark of Ventilago leiocarpa Benth. The results showed that each fraction displayed both antiinflammatory and hepatoprotective activities, The H2O fraction (50, 100 mg/kg) was even more effective than indomethacin (10 mg/kg) in reducing carrageenin-induced oedema, and also had the greatest protection against CCl4-induced liver injury, It significantly lowered the acute increase in sGOT and sGPT levels caused by CCl4. Histopathological changes such as necrosis, fatty change, ballooning degeneration and inflammatory infiltration of lymphocytes and Kupffer cells around the central veins were also concurrently improved by the treatment with each fraction (50 mg/kg) or the H2O fraction (100 mg/kg).