Hepatoprotective and toxicological studies of Salvia bucharica methanolic extract in rabbits.

Most of the species of genus Salvia are famous for having medicinal properties due to their chemical constituents. Salvia bucharica (Lamiacea) is found in Balochistan near Quetta in Hannaurak and Kalat. It is used in traditional system of medicine and claims to cure liver ailments. In current study crude methanolic extract (CME) of Salvia bucharica was obtained from the leaves and tested for hepatoprotective activity and possible toxicity in rabbits. Liver toxicity was induced in rabbits by administration of carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) and evaluated by biochemical tests and histopathology of tissues. In this study rabbits were divided in to 3 groups (5 rabbit in each group). Rabbits of group I (control) were administered only vehicle (0.9% sodium chloride) orally. Rabbits of group II were given CCl4 and group III were treated with CCl4 and S. bucharica CME orally. For hepatoprotective effect serum enzyme level and total protein level were calculated. Histopathology of liver sections of rabbits was also carried out to observe protective effect. Biochemical, hematological and histoptahological parameters were studied on rabbits for toxicological studies. S. bucharica CME showed significant liver protection with reduction in total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT). And decrease in Albumin and globulin. In toxicological studies, biochemical and histoptahological parameters showed no significant toxicity in liver, heart and kidneys. It is concluded that S. bucharica CME showed hepatoprotective effects with nontoxic profile.