ANTIOXIDANT AND PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF Cousinia thomsonii AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN WISTAR RATS

In this study hepatoprotective effect of methanol extracts of Cousinia thomsonii for 28 days was evaluated in male Wistar rats against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. 5 groups of rats with 5 rats per group were taken for the study. Group I rats were taken as control and received water. Group II rats were treated with hepatotoxin CCl4 at dosage of 1ml/kg body weight. Group III, Group IV and Group V rats were treated with Cousinia thomsonii extract at dose concentrations of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight before CCl4 administration. Rats treated with plant extract showed a significant reduction in the extent of lipid peroxidation and the serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP than CCl4 treated rats (group II). A dose-dependent restoration of haematological parameters was also observed. The antioxidant enzymes of liver homogenate (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione- S-transferase) in Cousinia thomsonii treated rats was found to restore their activities in a dose-dependent manner when compared with CCl4 treated rats (group I). This study suggests that methanol extracts of Cousinia thomsonii shows hepatoprotective effects against CCl4 induced liver damage and possess antioxidant properties.