Hepatoprotective activity of Desmodium gangeticum in paracetamol induced liver damage in rats

Paracetamol is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug, at high dose, it can produce undesirable side effects such as hepatotoxicity. To evaluate the antihepatotoxic activity of Desmodium gangeticum against paracetamol induced toxicity rats. Albino rats of Wistar strain were used to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of D. gangeticum against paracetamol intoxicated rats. Hepatotoxicity was determined by changes in serum ALT, ALP, AST, LDH, GGT, protein and bilirubin. The results of the rats treated with D. gangeticum were compared to standard silymarin. Paracetamol hepatotoxicity was manifested biochemically by an increase in serum ALT, ALP, AST, LDH, GGT. In addition, marked decrease in protein, bilirubin levels were observed. Serum ALT, ALP, AST, LDH, GGT was found to decrease in the combination group on comparison with paracetamol group. The results obtained suggested that D. gangeticum significantly attenuated the hepatotoxicity as an indirect target of paracetamol in an animal model of paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity.