n-Vitro Hepatoprotective Activity Of Justicia Gendarussa Stem On Isolated Rat Hepatocytes

Abstract

Isolated rat primary hepatocytes were used as in-vitro model to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Justicia gendarussa Burm. Carbon tetrachloride was chosen as hepatotoxin and silymarin was the reference hepatoprotective agent. The isolated primary rat hepatocytes were incubated with standardized hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 (10 mM), and various concentrations (10, 50 and 100μg/ml) of the extract and silymarin (100μg/ml). Trypan blue exclusion assay was used to measure the cell viability. Marker transaminase enzymes (GOT, GPT) and Total Protein (TP) in the cell culture suspension were determined. Methanolic extract has shown moderate hepatoprotective activity on isolated rat hepatocytes. The extract produces significant (P<0.05) moderate protective effect, however it is similar but less than silymarin. This result suggests that the Justicia gendarussa possess moderate hepatoprotective activity on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes