Hepatoprotective Effect of Carrot (Daucus carota L.) on Paracetamol Intoxicated Rats

Abstract

Plant products play a crucial role in the hepatoprotection through its antioxidants property. Therefore, search for modern medicine of plant origin with this property has become a central focus on hepatoprotection today. This study investigated to search a new hepatoprotective agent from natural sources, the methanol extract of nutitional plant, Daucus carota leaves was tested against liver damage of albino rats. Levels of serum marker enzymes i.e. SGOT, SGPT (aminotransferases), ALP (alkaline phosphatase) and TB (total bilirubin) in serum respectively. The histopathological changes of liver sections were also compared with the respective controls. 30% paracetamol induced significant (P<0.05) increase in liver enzymes alongwith the hepatic necrosis and other visible disarrangements in hepatic tissues. Simultaneously, oral treatment with kaempferol (KF) isolated from D. carota plant reversed to all the serum and liver parameters, dose-dependently, in 30% paracetamol treated rats. The biochemical results were also compared with the standard drug i.e. silymarin. These findings indicate the hepatoprotective potential of D. carota fruit against liver damage might be due to the presence of flavonoid like KF constituents.