Hepatoprotective activity of Punica granatum leaf extract against Carbon Tetrachloride induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

In the present study Hepatoprotective activity of aqueous leaf extract of Punica grantum on total protein, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alanine phosphatise (ALP) in CCl4 intoxicated rat were studied. Administration of CCl4 showed significant increase (p<0.01) in liver marker enzymes in serum namely AST (52.30 +/- 1.15 to 107.2 +/- 13.7 IU/L), ALT (146.63 +/- 5.79 to 206.2 +/- 28.82 IU/L), ALP (176.24 +/- 5.8 to 508.2 +/- 10.22 IU/L), bilirubin (0.52 +/- 0.09 to 2.61 +/- 0.27 mg/dl) and significantly decreased total protein (9.57 +/- 0.17 to 5.2 +/- 0.085 mg/dl), when compared to normal. Aqueous extract of Punica grantum at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight showed significant increase in total protein (5.2 +/- 0.085 to 6.1 +/- 0.023; 6.5 +/- 0.033) as compared to CCl4 treated rats. The extract lowered enzyme levels which is designation of Hepatoprotective action of extract. The serum AST, ALT and ALP levels are reliable markers of liver function. Thus the present study concludes the aqueous leaf extract of Punica grantum to possess Hepatoprotective activity.