Evaluation of Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of Fruit Rind Extract of Garcinia dulcis (Roxburgh) Kurz

BACKGROUND: Garcinia spp. belongs to the family Clusiaceae has been traditionally used for the treatment of many ailments including the liver damage. Garcinia dulcis found in North Eastern region of Assam; India can be a potential candidature to combat different ailments. Objective: The present work has been designed in such a way to appraisal the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of fruit rind extract of this plant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antioxidant activity was investigated through the various in vitro models, namely, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine, 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, nitrite oxide. Phytochemical investigation for total phenolic and flavonoids contents were carried out by standard protocol. For the evaluation of hepatoprotective activity, albino Wistar rats were divided into five groups, five animals per group and activity was determined by measuring the contents of liver function marker enzymes such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and biochemical parameter, that is, Bilirubin and total protein. Histopathology observation of liver sections was conducted. RESULTS: Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of both phenolic and flavonoid groups in the extract in a significant amount. Antioxidant activity of the plant extract was observed in all models and percentage of inhibition was dose-dependent. Intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride, elevated the liver function enzymes, bilirubin, and suppressed the production of total protein. Pretreatment with the extract decreased the SGOT, SGPT, ALP, and bilirubin level significantly and increased the production level of total protein in a dose-dependent manner. The histopathological observation supported the hepatoprotective potentiality of the extract. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that fruit rind part of G. dulcis is nontoxic and the plant can utilize as an antioxidant source. The plant has a protective agent for liver damages and other diseases caused by free radicals. SUMMARY: In vitro antioxidant and in vivo hepatoprotective activity was evaluated. Methanolic extract was subjected to quantify the both phenolic and flavonoid contents. The extract showed the significant amount of both phenolic and flavonoids contents. The extract showed the free radical scavenging activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine, 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid and nitrite oxide models. The extract was administrated against the carbon tetrachloride intoxicated animal models to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity by determining the level of liver marker enzymes such as serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase and biochemical parameter such as protein and bilirubin. Pretreatment with the extract reversed the elevated level of the enzymes and increased the protein level in a dose-dependent manner. The histopathological observations of the liver sections supported the hepatoprotective activity of the extract. The present study revealed that the Garcinia dulcis extract is a good candidature for preventing liver damage and other disease caused by free radicals. [Image: see text] Abbreviations Used: DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine, ABTS: 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, SGOT: Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, SGPT: Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, ALP: Serum alkaline phosphatase.