Phytochemical and Pharmacognostic based evaluation of Indigofera Cordifolia against CCl4 Induced hepatotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

The importance of the medicinal plants dates long back. Because of their exceptional medicinal importance, plants are widely used for therapeutic purposes. Plants contain several phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, saponins and anthraquinones that are important in providing some beneficial compounds that interact either directly or indirectly and helps in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases, inflammation, and diabetes etc. which is rather challenging for mankind. Indigofera Cordifolia which is among one of the most important therapeutic plants and is mostly used to treat inflammation, diabetes, and fever. The significance of our research work is to examine the hepatoprotective effects of Indigofera Cordifolia against CCl4 induced toxicity. Plant leaves of Indigofera Cordifolia were collected and then soaked in the semi-polar solvent methanol for two weeks. To check the activity of phytochemicals, different qualitative and quantitative assays were performed. Qualitative analysis of the Indigofera Cordifolia shows the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and phenolic content. While quantitative analysis shows that this plant is less toxic and has more therapeutic potential. The hepatoprotective efficacy of the methanolic fraction of Indigofera Cordifolia was tested against CCl4-mediated oxidative damage in rat’s liver. Liver tissues were examined at three different levels; molecular, biochemical and histological. Rats were given plant fraction treatment on alternative days for one month to compare to oxidative stress caused by carbon tetrachloride. At biochemical level, different assays were performed. The activity of different antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, and POD) and reduced glutathione level is lower in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treated group as compared to the plant treated group. While in case of lipid peroxidation (TBARS), the level is high is carbon tetrachloride treated group and is reduced in plant treated group. Similarly, in comparison to the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treated group, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitrite levels were significantly reduced in the plant treated group. In a dose- dependent way, rats given plant extract demonstrated therapeutic properties against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) toxicity. Next, the histopathological analysis of liver tissue indicates that the high dose (600mg/kg) of DRSML QAU Abstract Phytochemical and pharmacognostic based evaluation of Indigofera Cordifolia against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in Rats vii the Indigofera Cordifolia plant extract is more effective in lowering the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced intoxication as compared to the low dose (300mg/kg). At molecular level, the hepatoprotective effect of the Indigofera Cordifolia against the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced toxicity is also studied. Because carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) causes damage to liver, it causes persistent oxidative stress, which leads to the endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis is taken for a long time. In order to study the hepatoprotective effect of plant extract, many inflammatory, ER stress and apoptotic markers were studied. The results showed that the Indigofera Cordifolia is a medicinal plant having a lot of therapeutic potential with antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. Due to the presence of a significant variety of phytochemicals, it exhibits promising antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity as well. As a result, the current study confirms the therapeutic value of medicinal plants, which could be providing long term support for the development of new medications. Keywords: Phytochemical, Rats, In-vivo, Indigofera Cordifolia, Cytotoxicity, hepatotoxicity