Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Properties of a Triherbal Formulation against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatotoxicity

The hepatoprotective activity of a triherbal formulation (GOV) comprising of 50 % ethanolic extract of Gongronema latifolia, Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amygdalina was studied using Wistar albino rats. The animals received a single intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 in a dose of 1 ml/kg of a 50 % (v/v) solution in liquid paraffin. GOV dose dependently and significantly (p< 0.05) attenuated the increase in serum hepatic enzyme levels after CCl4 treatment compared to the toxin control group. On administration of GOV, it dose dependently resulted in a significant (p< 0.05) elevation in the levels of serum CAT, GPx, GSH, GST, SOD and total protein and significant (p < 0.05) decrease in lipid peroxidation compared to the toxin control group. It also increased the attenuated the total protein concentrations compared to the toxin control group. The results were comparable to Liv 52 and silymarin.The results of this study confirmed the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of the triherbal formulation against carbon tetrachloride induced nephro-hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats.