Hepatoprotective activity of Sapindus mukorossi and Rheum emodi extracts: In vitro and in vivo studies

AIM: To study the hepatoprotective capacity of Sapindus mukorossi (S. mukorossi) and Rheum emodi (R. emodi) extracts in CCl4 treated male rats. METHODS: The dried powder of S. mukorossi and R. emodi was extracted successively with petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, and ethanol and concentrated in vacuum. Primary rat hepatocyte monolayer cultures were used for in vitro studies. In vivo, the hepatoprotective capacity of the extract of the fruit pericarp of S. mukorossi and the rhizomes of R. emodi was analyzed in liver injured CCl4-treated male rats. RESULTS: In vitro: primary hepatocytes monolayer cultures were treated with CCl4 and extracts of S. mukorossi & R. emodi. A protective activity could be demonstrated in the CCl4 damaged primary monolayer culture. In vivo : extracts of the fruit pericarp of S. mukorossi (2.5 mg/mL) and rhizomes of R. emodi (3.0 mg/mL) were found to have protective properties in rats with CCl4 induced liver damage as judged from serum marker enzyme activities. CONCLUSION: The extracts of S. mukorossi and R. emodi do have a protective capacity both in vitro on primary hepatocytes cultures and in in vivo in a rat model of CCl4 mediated liver injury.