ABSTRACT

Ziziphus rugosa Lam. belongs to the family Rhamnaceae and is found chiefly in deciduous and semi evergreen forest of Western Ghats. The present research was undertaken to establish in vitro antioxidant and in vivo hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Z.rugosa Lam. leaves. The powdered leaves of Z. rugosa were extracted with ethanol and preliminary phytochemical screening was performed for the presence of various phytoconstituents. DPPH assay and β-glucuronidase inhibition assay were selected for the free radical scavenging activity. For the assessment of hepatoprotective activity, alcohol and CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity model were used. The phytochemical analysis of ethanolic extract showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins and flavonoids. The extract exhibited concentration dependent radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 61.88 μg/ml and β –glucoronidase inhibition activity with an IC50 value of 70.61 μg/ml. It was speculated that the Z. rugosa Lam. ethanolic extract shows dosedependent hepatoprotective activity which is equivalent with the standard drug Silymarin. The inhibition of free radicals or free radical scavenging activity is significant in the protection against CCl4 and alcohol induced hepatopathy. Hence, it is likely that the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of Z. rugosa Lam. might contribute to the hepatoprotective action.