Synergistic effect of silymarin and standardized extract of Phyllanthus amarus against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in Rattus norvegicus

In search of the effective and standardized hepatoprotective combination therapy, silymarin and standardized extract of Phyllanthus amarus has been evaluated against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Eight groups of rats were used. The animals of group A served as normal and were given only vehicle. The animals of group B served as toxin control and were administered with CCl4 (50% solution of CCl4 in liquid paraffin, 2 ml/kg b.w., intraperitoneally). The animals of groups C–H received silymarin (100 mg/kg b.w.), Phyllanthus amarus aqueous extract (100 mg/kg b.w.), Phyllanthus amarus ethanolic extract (100 mg/kg b.w.), silymarin (50 mg/kg b.w.)+P. amarus aq. ext. (50 mg/kg b.w.), silymarin (50 mg/kg b.w.)+P. amarus eth. ext. (50 mg/kg b.w.) and marketed formulation (M.F.) 5 ml/kg b.w. for 6 days orally as well as CCl4 (2 ml/kg b.w.) on 4th day intraperitoneally. The test materials were found effective as hepatoprotective as evidenced by plasma and liver biochemical parameters. The combination of silymarin and Phyllanthus amarus showed synergistic effect for hepatoprotection and silymarin with ethanolic extract of P. amarus showed better activity due to the higher concentration of phyllanthin in ethanolic extract in comparison to aqueous extract of P. amarus as estimated by HPLC.