Hepatoprotective effect of Lobelia alsinoides Lam. in Wistar rats

Traditional healing practitioners of South India use fine paste (an Ayurvedic dosage form known as 'kalka') of Lobelia alsinoides Lam., an ethno medicinal plant for curing hepatic diseases.

To evaluate in-vivo hepatoprotective effect of a candidate formulation viz. kalka containing whole plant (L. alsinoides Lam.) in rat model of Carbon-tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatotoxicity.

Hepatotoxicity was induced in Wistar albino rats by oral administration of 1.25 ml/kg CCl₄ once every day for 7 consecutive days. A candidate kalka formulation (fine paste) was prepared and administered to rats at different dose rates of 0.54 g/kg, 1.08 g/kg and 2.16 g/kg daily. At the end of the study-period, the serum levels of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, total protein, albumin and total cholesterol were monitored. Further, the hepatic pathology was evaluated for assessing the extent of hepatotoxicity in the control and hepatoprotective effect in treatment groups. Meanwhile in-vitro antioxidant activity of kalka was evaluated by hydroxy radical, nitric oxide and DPPH (2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil) radical scavenging assays. Further, a 'limit test' was done in accordance with OECD Guidelines 425 (acute toxicity).

The animals treated with the fine paste of L. alsinoides did not show an elevation in the biochemical values compared to CCl₄ treated rats and during histomorphologic evaluation, hepatoprotective effect was evident with scattered mitotic figures in the parenchyma. Acute toxicity evaluation indicated that doses up to 2500 mg/kg are not toxic to rats. It has a good anti-oxidant activity also.

From the study, it was obvious that L. alsinoides had significant hepatoprotective effect in CCl₄ induced liver toxicity in rats. This ethno medicinal plant is certainly a promising hepatoprotective drug in liver disorders.