Hepatoprotective Effect of Lepidium Sativum Linn (Cruciferae) Total Alkaloid Fraction against CCl₄ Induced Hepatotoxicity on Rats

The effect of total alkaloid fraction extracted from the seeds of Lepidium sativum Linn (Cruciferae) on body weight, relative liver weight, biochemical parameters, in vitro bromosulphalein (BSP) uptake and histology of liver in rats intoxicated with carbon tetra chloride (CCl₄) were evaluated in this study. The L. sativum alkaloidal fraction (LSAF) was given in dose of 50, 150 and 250 mg/kg for fourteen days. LSAF showed dose dependent protection against body weight loss. Silymarin and LSAF treatment showed hepatoprotection by reducing the liver weight of CCl₄ intoxicated rats from 4.342 ± 0.035 to 3.986 ± 0.025 gm/100 gm body weight respectively. LSAF at 250 mg/kg dose significantly (p<0.01–0.001) reduced the serum total and direct bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, ALP, cholesterol and triglyceride compared to CCl₄ treated group. Serum protein and albumin level was extreme significantly (p<0.01–0.001) normalized at 250 mg/kg dose. LSAF at dose of 150 and 250 mg/kg showed 61.22 and 75.02% hepatoprotection in BSP uptake. LSAF treatment following CCl₄ intoxication showed mild focal coagulative and centrolobular necrosis, with altered hepatic parenchyma compared to severe hepatic damage caused by CCl₄ in liver section.