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Original Article

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Bombax ceiba

flowers against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity

in rats

1
3
1
2
Manish M. Wanjari , Rachna Gangoria , Yadu Nandan Dey , Sudesh N. Gaidhani ,
1
Narendra K. Pandey , Ankush D. Jadhav 1
1 National Research Institute for Ayurveda-Siddha Human Resource Development, Gwalior 474009, Madhya Pradesh, India.
2 School of Studies in Biochemistry, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474011, Madhya Pradesh, India.
3 Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, New Delhi 110058, India.
ABSTRACT
Aim: The flowers of Bombax ceiba are traditionally used as home remedy in the treatment of jaundice and spleen enlargement.
The present work investigated the effect of aqueous extract of flowers of Bombax ceiba (BCAE) on experimentally induced
hepatotoxicity in rats to substantiate its traditional use as hepatoprotective agent. Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced
in rats by carbon tetrachloride (CCl ) treatment; at the same time vehicle or BCAE (250 or 500 mg/kg) or silymarin (25
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mg/kg) were administered daily orally for seven days. Hepatotoxicity was assessed by estimating the activities of marker
enzymes and by histological studies. The antioxidant effect of BCAE was assessed by measuring amount of antioxidant
phytochemicals (total phenolics and flavonoids), and DPPH free radical scavenging assay of the extract. Results: BCAE
treatment significantly prevented the CCl -induced elevations in levels of glutamate oxaloacatate transaminase, glutamic
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pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and triglycerides, and decreased the total protein levels. Treatment
with BCAE attenuated the CCl -induced cytotoxic damage to liver. BCAE exhibited presence of antioxidant phytochemicals
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and showed scavanging action on DPPH radicals. The hepatoprotective effect of BCAE was comparable to that of the
standard antioxidant hepatoprotective agent, silymarin. These findings indicated that BCAE showed hepatoprotective effect
against CCl -induced hepatotoxicity and exhibited in vitro antioxidant effects. Conclusion: Bombax ceiba flowers exhibited
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hepatoprotective effect which may be attributed to antioxidant potential. This study also validated their traditional medicinal
use in liver disorders.
Key words: Semal; liver disorders; liver function test; free radical scavenging; silymarin

Address for correspondence:
Dr. Manish M. Wanjari, National Research Institute for Ayurveda-Siddha Human Resource Development, Gwalior 474009, Madhya Pradesh, India.
E-mail: manish.nriashrd@gmail.com
Received: 09-09-2015, Accepted: 30-11-2015

Manish M. Wanjari, PhD, is a pharmacology scientist involved in research on medicinal plants
and Ayurvedic formulations since last 10 years. His major research area is herbal drug
development for diabetes, inflammation, etc. He published 30 research papers in national
and international journals. He is life member of various scientific societies.

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How to cite this article: Wanjari MM, Gangoria R, Dey YN, Gaidhani
DOI: SN, Pandey NK, Jadhav AD. Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity
10.20517/2394-5079.2015.55 of Bombax ceiba flowers against carbon tetrachloride-induced
hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatoma Res 2016;2:144-50.

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