Hepatoprotective activity of methanolic bark extracts of Ficusspecies

The methanol bark extracts of F. dalhousiae (FdBM) and F. tsiela (FtBM) extracts were tested for the hepatoprotective activity against Albino Wister rats with liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The bark extracts exhibited a liver protective property by lowering the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH). The levels of liver cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) activities were raised significantly after oral administration of the FdBM and FtBM extracts at the doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight. The obtained results revealed that the cytosolic enzymes play a crucial role in the cellular defense mechanisms of rats. The hepatoprotective activity was further confirmed by histopathological studies of liver tissue. This study thus has an importance in future development of a novel therapeutic against liver damage.