Macroscopical, anatomical and physico-chemical studies on leaves of <i style="">Coccinia indica</i> Wight & Arn., growing wildly in eastern Uttar Pradesh region of India

74-80Coccinia indica Wight &amp; Arn. of family Cucurbitaceae, called Ivy Gourd in English and Kundru or Bimb in Hindi, is a wildly growing climber or trailing weed in eastern Uttar Pradesh region of India. Its leaves are traditionally used for treatment of various diseases like wounds, ulcers, inflammation, skin diseases, fever, asthma, cough, diabetes and anemia. An attempt has been made to highlight this folk herbal medicine through present study which will assist in the identification of fresh as well as dried crude samples of leaves anatomically and physicochemically. TLC fingerprint profiling and fluorescence analysis of powdered leaves were also carried out and the salient qualitative and quantitative parameters are reported. These studies will provide referential information for correct identification and help in checking adulteration in market samples used in the preparation of various herbal medicines. The present observation will also be helpful in differentiating the leaves of this species from closely related species of same genus and family

Hepatoprotective effects of Adenanthera pavonina (Linn.) against anti-tubercular drugs-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

a b s t r a c t Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective action of the leaves of Adenanthera pavonina against isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF)-induced liver damage in experimental animals. Methods: Five groups of six rats each were selected for the study. A methanolic (50%) extract of A. pavonina at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg as well as silymarin 100 mg/kg were administered orally once daily for 28 days in INH þ RIF treated groups. The serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total protein, albumin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were estimated along with activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Histopathological analysis was carried out to assess injury to the liver tissue. Result: The methanolic extract of A. pavonina was safe up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg. The significantly elevated serum enzymatic activities of SGOT, SGPT, ALP, bilirubin and LDH due to INH þ RIF treatment were restored to near normal in a dose dependent manner after the treatment with methanolic extract of leaves of A. pavonina. Also the increased level of total protein and albumin towards normal by extract of A. pavonina leaves. In the anti-oxidant studies a significant increase in the levels of glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase was observed. In addition, methanolic extract also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde formation in the liver of INH þ RIF intoxicated rats in a dose dependent manner. The biochemical observations were supplemented with histopathological examination of rat liver sections. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the methanolic extract of leaves of A. pavonina exhibited hepatoprotective effects against INH þ RIF induced hepatic damage in rats as compared to standard drug silymarin