EVALUATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF SELECTED FRUIT PEEL EXTRACTS AND THEIR POLY HERBAL MIXTURE ON CCL4 INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY: AN IN VIVO STUDY

The main aim of this study was to screen the selected fruit peel extracts and their polyherbal mixture (PHM) for hepatoprotective activity. Male wistar albino rats (180-200 g), divided into 12 groups after induction of hepatotoxicity, were treated with selected fruit peel extracts and PHM and at the end of 14th day blood and liver samples were collected and analysed. The aqueous peel extract of Malus pumila was a better hepatoprotective among the selected peel extracts. The activities might be due to the conditioning of hepatocytes by protecting the integrity of the membrane from CCl4 induced leakage of serum markers into circulation. All the selected plant extracts and PHM were shown to revert back the liver enzymes to the normal values in diseased rats in a dose dependent manner. In conclusion, the selected fruit peel extracts and poly herbal mixture can be a potent hepatoprotective agent due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.