Protective Effect of Aqueous Extract of Seeds of Vigna mungo (Linn) Hepper on Ethanol-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats.

Vigna mungo is traditionally used in variety of liver disease conditions and thought to have a protective effect which may be beneficial to reduce symptoms of hepatotoxicity. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the aqueous extract of seeds of Vigna mungo (AEVM) for its hepatoprotective activity against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity was assessed by estimating physical (increased liver weight and volume) biochemical (increased serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin (BIT) enzyme levels) functional (increased thiopentone induced sleeping time) and histological (damage to hepatocytes) liver parameters. Pretreatment with aqueous extract of seeds of Vigna mungo (AEVM) has significantly prevented the above changes produced by ethanol.