Actividad hepatoprotectora del extracto acuoso seco de Boerhavia erecta L. (tostón) en ratas

introduction: several in vitro studies of the aqueous extract from boerhavia erecta l. and the human hepatome cell line plc/prf/5 showed suppression in the formation of hepatitis b surface antigen (hbsag) and the inhibitory action of the antigen present in human serum contaminated with hepatitis b surface antigen. objectives: to determine the in vivo hepatoprotective effect of the aqueous extract from b. erecta. methods: male wistar rats were treated with 250 and 500mg of dry extract per kg intragastrically for 5 days, with induced hepatic damage on the last day, using 1 ml/kg of a 1:1 mixture of carbon tetrachloride and olive oil; after 24 hours, blood samples were taken to determine enzymatic activity of alanine-aminotransferase and for the euthanasia of the rats in order to perform the histological study of their livers. results: the extract caused significant reduction in the enzymatic activity of alanine-aminotransferase from treated rat sera and provided complete protection to the parenchyma of those animals which were administered 500 mg/kg dose. conclusions: the in vivo hepatoprotective effect of b. erecta aqueous extract was shown against carbon tetrachloride-induced damage.