Hepatoprotective and Hypoglycemic Activity of Viburnum Lantana L

Abstract

In the present study we investigated the hepatoprotective effect of the water extract of Viburnum lantana L. (VL) leaves on carbon tetrachloride (CC14)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, hypoglycemic activity and lethal doses of the sante extract in mice. Biochemical parameters of hepatic damage such as serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin concentrations were determined. CCI4 (0.8 mL/kg i.p. for 7 days) treatment increased the serum AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin levels significantly as compared to controls. Treatment of animals with silibinin (50 mg/kg) + CC14 (0.8 mL/kg i.p.) or VL (100 mg/kg, i.p.) + CC14 (0.8 mL/kg i.p.) for 7 days significantly ameliorated the levels of AST, ALT and ALP elevated by the CC14 treatment alone. The results of biochemical tests were also confirmed by histopathological examination. The livers of the group treated with VL showed less balooning degeneration and apoptosis. Necrosis had not been observed in VL group. These results suggest that, liver damage occured in VL-treated group is less than the damage occured in silibinin-treated group. To evaluate of hypoglicemic activity of VL, glibenclamide was used as the reference agent. But, VL has not hypoglycemic activity in healthy and diabetic mice.