Volume : 13, Issue : 09, September – 2026
Title:
PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF STANDARDIZED EXTRACT OF ADHATODA VASICA ON DICLOFENAC-INDUCED HEPATOCELLULAR DEATH IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS
Authors :
Ms. Sonali Dada Sargar*, Dr. Kamble H. V., Mr. Ghodake S. R., Dr. Kandhare A.D., Ms. Priti Navnath Divekar, Ms.Harshada Anil Thorat
Abstract :
Background: Diclofenac is a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug associated with hepatotoxicity, which may involve oxidative stress, depletion of endogenous antioxidants, and hepatocellular apoptosis. The present study investigated the hepatoprotective potential of standardized Adhatoda vasica (AV) extract against diclofenac-induced hepatic injury in rats.
Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6). Hepatic injury was induced by intraperitoneal administration of diclofenac (50 mg/kg) on days 14 and 15. Standardized A. vasica extract was administered orally at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for 15 days, while silymarin (100 mg/kg) was used as the reference treatment. Body weight, liver weight, serum AST, ALT, ALP, albumin, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin were evaluated. Hepatic oxidative stress was assessed by estimating SOD, GSH, MDA, and nitric oxide levels. Hepatic Caspase-3 was also determined, and histopathological examination of liver tissue was performed.
Results: Diclofenac administration produced marked hepatic alterations, including increased serum AST, ALT, ALP, total and direct bilirubin, liver weight, MDA, nitric oxide, and Caspase-3 levels, with concomitant reductions in serum albumin, hepatic SOD, and GSH. These changes were associated with severe histopathological alterations, including necrosis, congestion, vesicular fat accumulation, inflammatory-cell infiltration, and pyknosis. Treatment with A. vasica at 200 mg/kg significantly attenuated several of these alterations compared with the vehicle-control group, including reductions in hepatic enzymes, bilirubin, MDA, nitric oxide, and Caspase-3, together with improvement in albumin, SOD, GSH, liver weight, and histopathological characteristics. The lower doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg generally did not produce statistically significant changes in most evaluated parameters.
Conclusion: Standardized Adhatoda vasica extract demonstrated hepatoprotective activity against diclofenac-induced hepatic injury in rats, with the 200 mg/kg dose producing the most consistent protective response. The observed effects were associated with improved hepatic biochemical function, restoration of antioxidant defenses, attenuation of oxidative stress, reduction of Caspase-3 levels, and improvement of hepatic architecture. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the active phytoconstituents and molecular mechanisms underlying this hepatoprotective effect.
Keywords: Adhatoda vasica; diclofenac-induced hepatotoxicity; hepatoprotection; oxidative stress; apoptosis; Caspase-3; antioxidant activity; liver injury; SOD; GSH.
Cite This Article:
Please cite this article in press Sonali Dada Sargar et al., Pharmacological Evaluation Of Standardized Extract Of Adhatoda Vasica On Diclofenac-Induced Hepatocellular Death In Experimental Rats.,. Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2026; 13(09).
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