Preliminary Phytochemical and Hepatoprotective Studies on Turnip Brassica rapa L.

Abstract

In the present study, the pre-treatment of rats with Turnip {Brassica rapa L.), juice protected the animals against CCl-induced hepatotoxicity. The treatment significantly reduced the serum GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin level at a dose of 16 mL kg -1 body weight. Besides, the juice also replinished the lowered nonprotein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) concentration in the liver tissue after CC14 treatment. The preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, anthocyanins and sulfur containing constituents. The present results reveal that turnip possesses a hepatoprotecti ve action, through its antioxidative potentials.