Hepatoprotective activity of aerial parts of Erythrina crista-galli

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Departments of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2 Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

3 Departments of Pharmacognosy Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Hepatoprotective activity was measured for Erythrina crista-galli extract as well as fractions. Fractions II and III have shown a remarkable protective effect against CCl4-induced hepatocyte injury. This was evidenced by their ability to significantly ameliorate CCl4-induced elevation in ALT and AST levels. This is supported by the notion that pretreatment of hepatocytes with either Erythrina crista-galli extracts or fractions significantly alleviated CCl4- induced GSH and SOD depletion and replenished CCL4 reduction of TAC. Hepatoprotective activity mechanism is attributed at least in part, to the free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of the phenolic compounds present in the extract proved by the phytochemical screening of the fractions.

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