Antioxidant mediated defense role of Wedelia calendulacea herbal extract against CCl4 induced toxic hepatitis

Liver,the most complex metabolic organ in human body is continuously exposed to various pathogenic oraganisms, xenobiotic agents,drugs and subjected to metabolic stresses. Being the organ of metabolism of xenobiotics and sources of free radicals, it becomes more vulnerable to toxic metabolites and free radical mediated disorders.The present study focuses on the antioxidant mediated protective effect of a popular medicinal herb Wedelia calendulacea against carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress in the liver of rats.Rats divided into four groups were administered with CCl4 and CCl4 along with methanol extract of leaves of Wedelia herb (200 and 400 mg/kg b.wt) for three weeks.At the end of treatment, rats were anaesthetized and blood samples were collected for serum separation.Biochemical analysis such as alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and total bilirubin(TB) were done in serum.Liver tissue was used for glutathione(GSH),lipid peroxidation(LPO),gluatathione peroxidase (GPx),glutathione Stransferase( GST) ,superoxide dismutase (SOD)and catalase(CAT) analysis.CCl 4 administration caused significant elevation of the serum enzymes and total bilirubin content.Antioxidant enzymes were drastically inhibited with significant reduction of glutathione and increased lipid peroxidation in CCl4 treated rats.W.calendulacea extracts administrated rats ,however did not show much changes in marker enzyme level.Antioxidant enzyme status was also not affected and found nearer to the control levels.Increased gluatathione level and reduced lipid peroxidation was also evident in W.calendulacea treated rats .The findings show that W.calendulacea extract offers better protection against the free radical toxicity of CCl4 .