Protective effect of Terminalia Arjuna against CCl4 induced liver damage in rats

摘要

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a well-known hepatotoxin and exposure to this chemical is known to induce liver injury by free radical formation. The present study has been Terminalia arjuna conducted to evaluate the protective role of the aqueous slurry of the bark powder of Terminalia arjuna on CCl4 induced liver dysfunction. Animals were treated with the aqueous slurry of, (2g/kg body weight) for four days after reversible liver damage induced by administering a single dose of CCl4 (1ml/kg body weight) in liquid paraffin. Serum marker enzymes were estimated for all study groups. Antioxidant status in the liver tissues was estimated by determining the activities of these enzyme markers; as well as by light and electron microscopic study. Results showed that CCl4 caused a marked rise in serum marker levels. The aqueous slurry of the bark powder of Terminalia arjuna, successfully prevented the alterations of these effects in the experimental animals and protect the liver tissues against CCl4 induced oxidative stress probably by increasing antioxidative defense activities.