Volume : 13, Issue : 01, January – 2026
Title:
EVALUATION OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SCOPARIA DULCIS FOR HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY IN RATS.
Authors :
Dr. A. Srinivasa Rao*, D. Pallavi, M. Vandana, Muskaan Unisa, S. Prashanthi, S. Deepika, Dr. R. Ramya Krishna
Abstract :
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of the methanolic extract of Scoparia dulcis (MESD) against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in experimental animals. A review of existing literature indicated limited scientific evidence supporting the hepatoprotective use of this plant, prompting a systematic investigation. Preliminary phytochemical screening of MESD revealed the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, carbohydrates, and proteins, suggesting bioactive constituents with therapeutic relevance.
Hepatoprotective activity was assessed using biochemical markers such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, LDH, ACP, total bilirubin, and total protein, along with antioxidant parameters (SOD, CAT, GSH, LPO) in albino mice and Wistar rats. Both low and high doses of MESD were compared with the standard hepatoprotective drug, silymarin. Paracetamol administration produced significant hepatic damage, as evidenced by elevated liver enzymes, oxidative stress markers, and histopathological alterations including centrilobular necrosis, congestion, and inflammatory infiltration. Treatment with MESD significantly restored biochemical parameters toward normal levels and markedly reduced histopathological lesions, indicating strong hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity.
The hepatoprotective effect of MESD was comparable to that of silymarin, confirming its therapeutic potential. These findings suggest that Scoparia dulcis possesses effective protective activity against chemically induced liver damage, possibly through the enhancement of endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms. Further studies are warranted to isolate and characterize the specific active constituents responsible for this activity.
Keywords: Scoparia dulcis, hepatoprotective, MESD, paracetamol-induced
Cite This Article:
Please cite this article in press A. Srinivasa Rao et al., Evaluation Of Methanolic Extract Of Scoparia Dulcis For Hepatoprotective Activity In Rats, Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2026; 13(01).
REFERENCES:
1. Farnsworth, N.R., Akerele, O., Bingel, A.S., Soejarto, D.D. and GuO, Z. “Medicinal plants in therapy.” Bulletin of the World Health Organization 63, no. 6 (1985): 965-981.
2. Belle, E.A. and Charlwood, B.V., Secondary plant products. “Encyclopedia of plant physiology.” Springer verlag publication, New York 8, (1980): 674-676.
3. Morgan, M.J., Watamaniuk, S.N.J. and McKee, S.P. “The use of an implicit standard for measuring discrimination thresholds.” Vision Research 40, no. 17 (2000): 2341-2349.
4. Dash Sanjaya K., Bhatnagar, S. “Multistage dehydration process for garlic.” Indian Journal of Agricultural Engineering 1, (1991): 33-36.
5. WHO, WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants 1, (1999): 05-277.
6. Bhat, K.K.P. “Medicinal plant information databases. In: Non-Wood Forest Products. Medicinal Plants for Conservation and Health Care, Rome.” Food and Agriculture Organization 11, 1995.
7. Zhang, X. “Regulatory Situation of Herbal Medicines.” A Worldwide Review (WHO/trm/ 98.1), Geneva, World Health Organization, 1998.
8. Shakya, A.K. “Medicinal plants future source of new drugs.” International Journal of Herbal Medicine 4, no. 4 (2016): 59-64.
9. Taid, T.C., Rajkhowa, and Kalita, J.C. “A study on the medicinal plants used by the local traditional healers of Dhemaji district, Assam, India for curing reproductive health related disorders.” Advances in Applied Science Research 5, no. 1 (2014): 296-301.
10. Tapsell, L. C., Hemphill, I., Cobiac, L., Sullivan, D. R., Fenech, M., Patch, C. S., Roodenrys, S., Keogh, J. B., Clifton, P. M., Williams, P. G., Fazio, V. A. and Inge, K. E. “Health benefits of herbs and spices: the past, the present, the future.” Medical Journal of Australia 185, no. 4 (2006):1-24.
11. Patro Lingaraj. “Medicinal Plants of India: With special reference to Odisha.” International Journal of Advance Research and Innovative Ideas in Education 2, no. 5 (2016): 121-135.
12. Rohilla, R. Garg, C. and Garg, M. “In-vitro hypoglycaemic evaluation of fractions of hydroalcoholic extract of heartwood of Tecomella undulates.” Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research 10, no. 2 (2017): 266-269.
13. Khan, R.A., Khan, M.R., Ahmed, M., Sahreen, S., Shah, N.A., Shah, M.S., Bokhari, J., Rashid, U., Ahmad, B. and Jan, S. “Hepatoprotection with a chloroform extract of Launaea procumbens against CCl4-induced injuries in rats.” Complementary and Alternative Medicine 12, no. 114, (2012): 01-11.
14. Teuber, H., Herrmann, K., “Flavonol glycosides of leaves and fruits of Anethum graveolens II phenolics of spice.” Zeitschrift für Leobensmittel-Untersuchung und – Forschung 167, no. 2 (1978):101-104.
15. Bower, W.A., Johns, M., Margolis, H.S., Williams, I.T. and Bell, B.P. “Population-based surveillance for acute liver failure.” American Journal of Gastroenterology 102, no. 11(2007): 2459-2463.
16. Vuppalanchi, R., Liangpunsakul, S. and Chalasani, N. “Etiology of new-onset jaundicehow often is it caused by idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury in the United States.” American Journal of Gastroenterology 102, no. 3 (2007): 558-562.
17. Schütte Kerstin, Schulz Christian and Malfertheiner Peter. “Hepatocellular carcinoma: current concepts in diagnosis, staging and treatment.” Gastrointest Tumors 1, (2014): 84- 92.
18. Lichtenstein, P K., Heubi, J.E., Daugherty, C.C., Farrell, M.K., Sokol, R.J., Rothbaum, R.J., Suchy, F.J. and Balistreri, W.F. Grade I Reye’s syndrome. “A frequent cause of vomiting and liver dysfunction after varicella and upper-respiratorytract infection.” New England journal of medicine 309, no. 3 (1983): 133-139.
19. Hinson, J.A., Roberts, D.W. and James, L.P. “Mechanisms of acetaminophen-induced liver necrosis.” Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 196, (2010): 369-405.
20. Mitchell, J.R., Jollow, D.J., Potter, W.Z., Davis D.C., Gillette, J.R. and Brodie, B.B. “Acetaminophen induced hepatic necrosis role of drug metabolism.” Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 187, no. 1(1973): 185-194.
21. Kaplan, M.M. “Alkaline Phosphatase.” New England Journal of Medicine 286, no. 4 (1972): 200-203.
22. Okamoto, T., Kajino, K. and Hino, O. “Hepatoprotective drugs for the treatment of virus induced chronic hepatitis: from hypercarcinogenic state to hypocarcinogenic state.” Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 87, (2001): 177-180.
23. Abu-Rabia, A. “Urinary diseases and ethnobotany among pastoral nomads in the middle east.” Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 1, no. 4 (2005): 01-03.
24. Shukla, S. and Garden, J. “Local knowledge in community-based approaches to medicinal plant conservation: lesion from India.” Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2, no. 20 (2006): 01-09.
25. Luper, S.N.D. “A review of plants used in the treatment of liver disease: Part 1.” Alternative Medicine Review 3, no. 6 (1998): 410-421.