Hepatoprotective impact of combined Emblica urinaria (L.), Saussurea costus and Rheum webbianum extracts against diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced hepatic injury in Wistar rats

Abstract

Liver diseases have become one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in men and animals all over the globe and hepatotoxicity due to drugs appears to be the most common contributing factor. A single drug cannot be effective against all types of severe liver diseases. The different plants exhibit different modes of action and in combination, that activity can be enhanced as compared to the single plant extract. The present study was planned to observe the in vitro cytotoxicity of 70% aqua ethanolic extracts of the plants namely Emblica urinaria (L.) (whole plant), Saussurea costus (roots) and Rheum webbianum (roots) on human oral cancer KB cells, human lung cancer A549 cells and human cervical carcinoma SiHA cells, respectively followed by in vivo experimental study in Albino Wistar rats. In the in-vivo experimental protocol, a total of 42 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, where, group I served as plain control and group II was provided with N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) alone. Group III received DEN with silymarin and groups IV, V and VI were administered with a combination of Emblica urinaria (L.), Saussureacostus and Rheum webbianum extracts in 3 doses in the ratio of 1:2:2 to study growth response, mortality pattern, clinical signs, biochemical and pathological changes against DEN-induced hepatic damage in rats. Emblica urinaria (L.), Saussureacostus and Rheum webbianum extracts have shown maximal % cytotoxicity at their highest concentration i.e. 200 μg/ml. The minimal alterations in the values of liver enzymes (ALT, AST), total protein and creatinine levels, gross and histopathological changes in the ameliorative groups depicted the protective efficacy of these plant extracts in combination as compared with the group II treated with DEN alone. The present study warrants the hepatoprotective potential of the plant mentioned above combinations and signifies the need to use these medicinal plants as a therapeutic regimen in future.