Studies on the Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Properties of Centella asiatica in Wistar Rats

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Centella asiatica leaf extract in ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in female Wistar rats. Forty rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group I served as the normal control, while hepatotoxicity was induced in Groups II, IV, and V by oral administration of 60% ethanol (5 ml/kg) for 28 days. Group III received Centella asiatica extract alone (300 mg/kg), while Groups IV and V were co-administered with ethanol and either silymarin (200 mg/kg) or Centella asiatica extract (300 mg/ kg), respectively. Body weights, organ weights, hematological indices, and serum biochemical markers (ALT, AST, ALP, BUN, creatinine) were assessed. Antioxidant parameters including malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, and reduced glutathione (GSH) were evaluated in liver tissue. Histopathological examination of the liver, kidney, and brain was performed at the end of the experiment. Ethanol administration significantly altered hematological, biochemical, and oxidative stress markers and induced histological damage in liver and kidney tissues. Treatment with Centella asiatica and silymarin reversed these changes, with silymarin showing slightly superior efficacy in restoring hepatic architecture. The results of the present investigation suggest that Centella asiatica possesses potent hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity, supporting its potential as a therapeutic agent against ethanol-induced liver injury.