Hepatoprotective studies on methanolic extract of caryopses of Echinochloa colona Link.

The caryopses (seeds) of Echinochloa colona Link of family Poaceae are traditionally used for the treatment of jaundice. The methanolic extract of caryopses of Echinochloa colona (ECME) was evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity in paracetamol (3g/kg per oral) and ethanol (5g/kg per oral) intoxicated rats while its antihepatotoxic activity against D-galactosamine (400mg/kg body weight intra peritoneal). The activity of the extract was assessed on the basis of improvement in the altered level of various serum biochemical parameters and in the changes occurred in the histology of liver of the rats. The extract was also investigated for its antioxidant potential by employing different in vitro methods. The extract exhibited ferrous ion reducing power, 1,1 Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide, nitric oxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. The significant (p<0.001) hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities exhibited by the extract ECME, in different in vivo models and in vitro studies respectively may be attributed to the flavonoids and phenolic compounds present in the extract.