Hepatoprotective and Antioxidative Activity of Avicennia marina Forsk

Avicennia marina Forssk. is a common mangrove tree found around estuarine coasts of India. The literature survey on this plant so far has reported the presence of several novel compounds with prospective medicinal value. Avicennia marina has been reported to posses flavones and flavonoids along with triterpenoids like betulin, lupeol etc. and has been reported for antiviral activity invitro on hepatits B virus. But scientific data on its hepatoprotective potential is unavailable. Thus the present study was aimed to evaluate hepatoprotective activity of standardized ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of Avicennia marina. The extract was standardized using validated HPTLC method for betulinic acid, betulin, lupeol, ursolic acid and β-sitosterol content. The antioxidant activity of Avicennia marina leaves was assessed by DPPH and Galvinoxyl free radical scavenging activity. Hepatoprotective activity was assessed against CCl4 induced liver intoxication. CCl4 induced albino Wistar rats were treated with three different doses of the standardized extract for three days. The results were compared with the established positive control, Silymarin. The extract provided concentration dependent percent protection which was evident by the changes in the levels of biochemical parameters (SGOT, SGPT, ALP, TPN, TG, CHO, HDL, LDL, direct and total bilirubin and liver glycogen content) in albino Wistar rats. The observations of biochemical parameters, antioxidant assays and histopathology, endorse an overall promising effect against liver disorders.