Hepatoprotective Activity of Prunus persica Peaches against Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity.

 

S. Manokaran*, V.S. Saravanan and Y. Bhargavi.

The Erode College of Pharmacy, Tamilnadu

 

ABSTRACT:

Hepato- toxicity is a common toxicity happening during the treatment of chronic disease like tuberculosis, diabetics. Prunus persica belongs to Rosaceae is  a plant growing in temperate region has laxative , sedative, anti-cancer property and also consist of glycosides, flavonoids, anthocyanins, vitamins. It also posses hepato-protactent property. To prove the activity scientifically the ethanolic extract of Prunus persica was studied against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. The extract when evaluated at dose of 100mg/ kg was found to significantly reduce the elevated levels of serum lysosomal enzyme Sgpt, Sgot, Alp and Bilirubin when compared with standard silymarin.

 

KEYWORDS: Prunus persica, paracetamol, albino rats, serum enzymes.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Prunus persica belongs to Rosaceae is a small tree indigenous to china grown in most part of temperate region. Various parts of the plant are traditionally used as anthelmenitics, laxative, purgatives1 sedative, anti-oxidant, antipyretics2 and also used as neuralgia, used to cure obstruction of liver and spleen3. The species has been investigated for a number of chemical constituents in leaves, fruits, which previously reported are tannins, carbohydrates, quercetin, minerals and vitamines4. Due to the anti-oxidant activity of the peaches the present work was taken and evaluated for the hepatoprotectivity against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

PLANT MATERIAL:

The peaches of Prunus persica were collected in rural area of Palani district of Tamil nadu and plant as well as peaches is authentified. The peaches are removed and smashed well with the help of hand grinding machine. The desired coarse powder was taken for extraction.

 

Isolation of kernel oil:

The dried peaches are soaked in petroleum ether for 24 hrs. Then the petroleum ether was evaporated and the yield was calculated. The percentage yield was 12.2 %w/w.

 

PREPARATION OFALCHOLIC EXTRACT5:

After isolation of the oil, the peaches are dried and then soaked in ethanol for 48 hrs. Then the extract was dried and percentage yield was calculated as 6.2%w/.The ethanol was selected to avoid the formation of prussic acid6.

 

 

Table 1.  Hepato Protective Activity of Alcoholic Extract of Prunus persica on Paracetamol Induced Hepato Toxicity in Rats. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. * P<0.01 significant when compared to control.

Experimental groups

SGPT

SGOT

BILIRUBIN

ALP

Normal

76.16 ±0 .83

220.66±2.93

0.065± 0.00034

138.16±1.67

Paracetamol (3gm/kg).

112.83±1.13

245±1.29

0.096±0.0055

177.83±2.218

Ethanolic extract (100mg/kg).

86±5.43

229.83±9.83*

0.084±0.0025

174.83±7.16*

Standard (25mg/kg ).

82.5±4.59

224.66±9.71

0.073±0.003

171.66±1.34

 

 

 

PHARMACOLOGICAL SCREENING:

TEST ANIMALS:

Normally healthy Wister strain rats of both sexes weighing of 150-200 mg/kg were used for the experiment. Animals are maintained under standard diet and water libitum. The experiment protocol has been approved by institutional animal ethics committee.

 

Hepato-protective activity7:

Totally 24 animals were equally divided into 4 groups of six (6) animals each.

Group1- served as normal control.

Group 2- served as toxic control paracetamol (3gm/kg/3days).

Group 3- served as test alcoholic extract of Prunus persica (100mg/kg/3days).

Group 4- served as standard silymarin (25mg/kg/3days).

All groups are received solution orally, after 48 hrs the blood samples are collected and serums were separated for enzyme analyses like SGOT, SGPT, ALP and BILIRUBIN.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

In normal condition very small amount of enzymes like Sgpt, Sgot, Alp, Bilirubin which are involved in the reaction in the tissue are present in blood7. The concentrations of these are significantly increases due to their liberation by the affected tissues due to paracetamol hepatotoxicity. With toxic dose of paracetamol the enzymes catalyzing the normal conjugation reaction are saturated and mixed function oxidases convert the drug to the reactive metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine. The NAPBQI is responsible for hepatotoxicity8. After giving the extract all the enzyme levels and bilirubin level are significantly reduced. The results show that it posse’s significant activity. If further studies conform the same means it will consider as best hepatoprotectant .The results are given in table.

 

REFERENCES:

1.       Nadkarni Ak., Indian Material Medica .Bombay Popular Prakashan Pvt.Ltd, Mumbai, 1982; P.1036-1037.

2.       Joshi SC., Medicinal Plants, Oxford and IBN publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New                 Delhi,2000; P.336-337.

3.       Orient Longman; Indian Medicinal PLANTS. Orient Longman pvt.ltd, Chennai, vol.IV;P 363-364.

4.       Joshi SC., 2000. Medicinal Plants, Oxford and IBN publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2000; P.336-337.

5.       Sukhdev Swami Handa., Extraction Technologies for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. International Centre for Science and High Technology, Padriciano 99, Italy, 2008; P. 23-24.

6.       http//www.answers.com/topic/almonds.

7.       Kurma.s.Rao, Indian Drugs., 1998, p. 92.

8.       Satoskar Rs., Text Book of Pharmacology, Bombay Popular Prakashan Pvt.Ltd, Mumbai,2009;P169-170.

 

 

 

Received on 30.10.2010

Accepted on 03.12.2010     

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 3(2): March- April 2011, 75-76