ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Clerodendrum paniculatum has ethnomedicinal importance in treatment of disorders like wound, typhoid, jaundice, malaria and anemia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of Clerodendrum paniculatum leaves against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced rat model and identification of its bioactive constituents by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GC MS). METHODS: Successive solvent extraction was carried out. Total phenolic, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity by 2,2- diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide and 2-Azino-bis [3-ethyl benzothiazoline- 6-sufonic acid] (ABTS method) were done. Ethyl acetate extract was selected for hepatoprotective study in carbon tetrachloride intoxicated model followed by the measurement of liver function marker enzymes such as SGOT (Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase), SGPT (Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase), and ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase). Biochemical parameters like bilirubin and protein were measured. Histopathologic liver sections were carried out. Bioactive constituents were evaluated by GC MS. RESULTS: By DPPH and ABTS method, ethyl acetate extract showed IC50 as 70.14±0.92 µg/ml,2958.24±2.460 µg/ml, respectively. The alcoholic extract showed maximum IC50 (197.22 ±7.16 µg/ml) by Nitric oxide radical scavenging method. Hepatoprotective study reveals that intoxicated animal groups have elevated levels of enzymes and bilirubin and suppress the production of protein. The extract pre-treatment showed a significant decrease in enzymes and increased production of total protein in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathologic studies also support the hepatoprotective activity. GC MS analysis revealed the presence of seven major bioactive constituents with ethyl palmitate as the major one. CONCLUSION: The results support the proof for the hepatoprotective potential of the CPLE extract with potent antioxidant activity and enhanced liver enzyme level. The observed activity could be due to the presence of bioactive compounds as identified by GC MS analysis.