Ameliorative effect of Bacopa monnieri on alcohol induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in albino rats

Abstract

Alcoholic liver disease is one of the most serious consequences of chronic alcohol abuse and the oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of the disease. The current investigation has been conducted to investigate the influence of Bacopa monnieri on hepatic antioxidant status in alcohol treated rats. Administration of alcohol (2g/kg/day) for 6 weeks resulted in liver injury and tested animals were treated orally with plant extract (200mg/kg), prior to ethanol administration. Hepatic marker enzymes like aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were analysed in serum. Hepatic antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) content and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were studied. The extract produced significant (p