Hepato protective and antioxidant activity of mimosa pudica on carbon tetra chloride –Induced hepatic damage in rats

The ethanol extract of Mimosa pudica (Mimosaceae) leaves was evaluated for its hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage, in wistar albino rats. The ethanol extract of Mimosa pudica (Mimosaceae) leaves (200 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) was administered to the experimental rats for 14 days. Silymarin (50 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) was given as the standard drug. The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various serum biochemical parameters as glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, and total proteins. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) was determined to explain the possible mechanism of activity. The substantially elevated levels of serum GOT, GPT, ALP and total bilirubin, due to CCl4 treatment, were restored towards near normal by Mimosa pudica (Mimosaceae), in a dose. Mimosa pudica (Mimosaceae) also increased the serum total proteins of CCl4-intoxicated rats. Reduced enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels and elevated lipid peroxide levels were restored towards near normal, by administration of Mimosa pudica (Mimosaceae). The results revealed that, the ethanol extract of Mimosa pudica (Mimosaceae) afforded significant dose dependent hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects in CCl4-induced hepatic damage.