Hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Trichosanthes lobata on paracetamol-induced liver toxicity in rats

Hepatotoxicity was induced in Wistar male rats by oral administration, 2？g/kg body weight on 7th day after the administration of ethanolic extract of Trichosanthes lobata and silymarin (100？mg/kg). Ethanolic extract of Trichosanthes lobata was administered orally at doses of 200？mg/kg and 400？mg/kg body weight daily for 7？days. Several serum markers, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, total protein was measured to assess the effect of the extract on paracetamol (acetaminophen)-induced hepatic damage. The study included histopathological examination of liver sections.Blood samples from rats treated with ethanolic extract of Trichosanthes lobata (200？mg/kg body weight and 400？mg/kg body weight) had significant reductions in serum markers in paracetamol administered animals, indicating the effect of the extract in restoring the normal functional ability of hepatocytes. Silymarin (100？mg/kg, p.o.) was used as a reference drug.The ethanolic extract of Trichosanthes lobata exhibits protective effects against paracetamol？induced hepatotoxicity.Hepatotoxicity is a common cause of severe metabolic disorders and even death [1]. Flavonoids exhibit vasoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-osteoporotic, and anti-neoplastic properties [2]. Trichosanthes lobata (wild snake gourd, family cucurbitaceae), Trichosanthes dioica[3,4]Trichosanthes cucumerina[5-12], and Trichosanthes kirilowii[13] contain carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, proteins, steroids, and saponins and Trichosanthes lobata is used for malarial fever and liver disorders [14,15].Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is widely used as an antipyretic and analgesic, and it produces acute liver damage if administrated in excess [16,17]. Paracetamol is mainly metabolized in the liver to excretable glucuronide and sulphate conjugates [18,19]. However, the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol has been attributed to the format