Protective Effect of a Standardized Fraction from Vitex negundo Linn. Against Acetaminophen and Galactosamine Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rodents

The use of Vitex negundo Linn. (Family: verbenaceae) is well documented in ayurveda and traditional Indian system of medicine for variety of diseases and liver ailments. The aim of the study was to investigate liver protective efficacy of a standardized bioactive fraction (SF) from Vitex negundo Linn. against acetaminophen (APAP) and galactosamine (GalN) hepatotoxicity. SF was tested at doses 12.5, 25, 50 and 100mg/kg, p.o. using both prophylactic and curative treatment schedule against APAP and GalN hepatotoxicity in mice and rats respectively. Isolated markers agnuside and negundoside were tested against APAP toxicity. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin and albumin were estimated in serum and triglycerides (TG), total protein, glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LP) in liver homogenate. Histopathological studies were carried out against APAP induced hepatotoxicity. SF exhibited significant hepatoprotection against APAP and GalN evident by restoration of ALT, AST, LDH, ALP, bilirubin, TG, albumin and total protein. Levels of LP and GSH also exhibited significant dose dependent recovery when treated with SF. Agnuside and negundoside also exhibited dose dependent protection against APAP induced hepatotoxicity. Microscopic examination of histopathological sections of liver confirmed hepatoprotective potential of SF. Results of the study suggest significant value of SF as hepatoprotective with sufficient safety margin as no mortality and change in general gross behavior was observed up to 2000 mg/kg, p.o. Hepatoprotective mechanism of SF may be due to its antioxidant activity exhibited by protection against increased lipid peroxidation and maintained glutathione status. It is apparent from the present study that agnuside and negundoside are the active ingredients in SF and can be responsible for the activity of SF.