Abstract
In this study antioxidant activity of methanol extract of rhizomes ofCurculigo orchioides (MEC) was investigated using carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-intoxicated rat liver as the experimental model. The hepatotoxic rats were administered MEC for 90 days (daily, orally at the dose of 70 mg per kg body weight). Lipid peroxidation (LPO) in CCl(4)-intoxicated rats was evidenced by a marked increment in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and diene conjugates (CD), and also a distinct diminution in glutathione (GSH) content in the liver. In CCl(4)+MEC-treated rats these biochemical parameters attained an almost normal level. The decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GRD) in CCl(4)-intoxicated rats, and its retrieval towards near normalcy in CCl(4)+MEC-administered rats revealed the efficacy of MEC in combating oxidative stress due to hepatic damage. Elevated level of glutathione transferase(GTS) observed in hepatotoxic rats too showed signs of retuming towards normalcy in MEC co-administered animals, thus corroborating the antioxidant efficacy of MEC. The findings provide a rationale for further studies on isolation of active principles and its pharmacological evaluation.