Hepatoprotective activity of Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M. Smith extract against ccl4 -induced hepatic toxicity in male wistar rats

The objective of this study is to investigate the phytochemical constituents of Wualae fruit extract and its cell-protecting activity towards CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity. Phytochemical screening performed in this study was alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin, and terpenoid. Extract was also characterized to specify the quality. The cell-protecting of extract was performed to Wistar male rats to measure their total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, and ALP levels post-treated with Wualae fruit extract at dose 200, 300, and 400 mg/kgBw for 7 d, and induced with CCl₄ the next day. Histopathology of intestine and liver organ was also performed. Our study found that extract contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids. We found extract decreases levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, and ALP at dose of 200, 300, and 400mg/kgBw (p<0.05), although histopathological results demonstrated that dose of 400mg/kgBw showed some necrosis at villi and steatosis at liver. In conclusion, Wualae fruit extract has protective effect toward CCl_4- induced hepatotoxicity at dose 200 and 300mg/kgBw and able to decreases bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, and ALP levels. Flavonoid contains in extract is suspected plays role in its cell-protecting effect.