EFFECT OF RUBIA-CORDIFOLIA EXTRACT ON ACETAMINOPHEN AND CCL4-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY

The hepatoprotective activity of an aqueous-methanol extract of Rubia cordifolia (Rubiaceae) was investigated against acetaminophen and CCl4-induced hepatic damage. Acetaminophen produced 100% mortality at a dose of 1g/kg in mice while pretreatment of animals with plant extract (500 mg/kg) reduced the death rate to 30%. Acetaminophen at a dose of 640 mg/kg produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the rise in serum levels of GOT and GPT to 1447 +/- 182 and 899 +/- 201 IU/L (n=10) respectively, compared with respective control values of 97 +/- 10 and 36 +/- 11. Pretreatment of rats with plant extract (500 mg/kg) towered significantly (p<0.005) the respective serum GOT and GPT levels to 161 +/- 48 and 73 +/- 29. Similarly, hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg; orally) raised the serum transaminases (GOT and GPT) levels to 422 +/- 102 and 354 +/- 74 IU/L (n=10) respectively compared with respective control values of 99 +/- 15 and 29 +/- 08 IU/L. The same dose of plant extract (500mg/kg) was able to prevent significantly (p<0.01) the CCl4-induced rise in serum enzymes and the estimated values of GOT and GPT were 95 +/- 09 and 33 +/- 07 IU/L, respectively. Moreover, it prevented CCl4-induced prolongation in pentobarbital sleeping time confirming the hepatoprotective effects of the extract.