Evaluation of Schrebera swietenioides roxb. fruit ethanolic extract for antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄ induced liver injury in rats

Herbal medicines provide rational means for the treatment of many diseases that are obstinate and incurable in other systems of medicine but it is necessary to establish the scientific basis for the therapeutic actions of herbal plant medicines. Schrebera swietenioides fruit ethanolic extract was studied for the hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄ induced liver injury in rats. Serum enzymes level, total bilirubin and histopathological study of liver were performed. This extract’s DPPH radical scavenging potential was also studied. Oral administration of ethanolic extract of Schrebera swietenioides fruit (200mg/kg) exhibited significant reduction (p<0.05) in CCl₄-induced increased levels of SGPT, SGOT, ALP and bilirubin (Total) concentration. Treatment with Liv 52 syrup also reversed the hepatotoxicity significantly (p<0.05). Histopathological studies also provided supportive evidence for biochemical analysis. This extract also showed better activity in quenching DPPH radical. The antioxidant property of ethanolic extract of Schrebera swietenioides fruit prevented the formation of trichloromethyl peroxy radical thereby reducing tissue damage which is further confirmed by the histopathological study. Therefore, the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Schrebera swietenioides fruit may be due to its antioxidant potential. Since there are reports that the plants containing steroids and saponins possess antioxidant properties, the hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of the test plant may be attributed to the presence steroids and saponins. Schrebera swietenioides fruit ethanolic extract shown to have hepatoprotective and antioxidant action.