Phytochemical and Hepatoprotective study of Nymphaea nouchali in Experimental Rats

The primary objective of present study was to explore the hepatoprotective activity of Nymphaea nouchali flower extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced liver necrosis. Nymphaea nouchali flowers were extracted with organic solvents like ethanol and n-hexane. These extracts were subjected to phytochemical studies. After the confirmation of flavonoids in the extracts, they were tested for in-vivo hepatoprotective activity. The study was carried out by taking female Wister rats in five groups, where each group consists of five rats. Biochemical and histological studies were carried out as a testimonial of hepatoprotective effect. Increased levels of biochemical tests like Albumin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, total bilirubin, serum glutamate O-methyl transferase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transferase(SGPT) and alkaline phosphate (ALP) provide an evidence of liver necrosis in CCl4 induced group. Pre-treatment with Nymphaea nouchali ethanolic extract (NNEE) showed a significant recovery effect equally as that of the standard drug (silymarin) when compared with Nymphaea nouchali n-hexane extract (NNHE). The hepatoprotective effect was statistically analyzed by ANOVA and was found to be significant (P<0.0001).