Hepatoprotective effect of Cassia tora seeds on experimental animal model

  Natural remedies from medicinal plants are considered to be effective and safe alternative treatment for liver toxicity. Our aim was to demonstrate the hepatoprotective effect of petroleum ether, methanol and aqueous extracts of Cassia tora seed with a view to explore its use for the treatment of hepatotoxicity in human. These extracts were used to study the hepatoprotective effect in paracetamol induced hepatotoxic model. In aqueous and methanol extracts treated groups there was statistical significant decrease in the levels of serum bilirubin, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transminase (SGPT) and serum alkaline phosphatase (SALP) as compared to the hepatotoxic group. In the histopathological study the hepatotoxic group showed hepatocytic necrosis and inflammation in the centrilobular region with portal triaditis. Aqueous and methanol extracts treated groups showed minimal inflammation with moderate portal triaditis and their lobular architecture was normal. It can be concluded that the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Cassia tora seed were not able to revert completely hepatic injury induced by paracetamol, but it could limit the effect of these drug in liver. The effects of extracts were comparable with standard drug silymarin. Keywords: Hepatoprotective, cassia tora seed, paracetamol.