EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF Phyllantus amarus LEAVES IN THE AMELIORATION OF CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED HEPATIC OXIDATIVE STRESS

ABSTRACT

Hepatic oxidative stress is known to play a crucial role in the development and progression of liver diseases. The animals were divided into five different groups, a normal control group, a CCl₄-treated group, silymarin control group and groups treated with different concentrations of the ethanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus leaves. Various parameters were evaluated to assess the level of oxidative stress and liver damage. Oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzymes such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR). The results of the study demonstrated that administration of CCl₄ caused a significant increase in MDA and NO concentrations when compared to control group. However, treatment with the ethanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus leaves significantly reduced the levels of these markers in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the extract administration also restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes (Superoxide dismutase and Catalase) to near-normal levels in the liver tissues. This indicated that Phyllanthus amarus extract is effective in reducing oxidative stress and protecting the liver from CCl₄-induced damage.