- RESEARCH PAPER Accepted 30 January 2005 Revised 30 August 2004 Received 4 May 2004 Indian J. Pharm. Sci., 2005, 67(1): 84-88 Hepatoprotective Activity of Rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus Unn against Carbon tetrachloride-induced Hepatotoxicity S. V. SURESH KUMAR*, AND S. H. MISHRA Sri Padmavathi School of Pharmacy, S. N. Puram, K. T. Bye Pass Road, Tirupati-517 507 Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Technology & Engineering, M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara-390 001 Ethyl acetate extract and two crude fractions, solvent ether and ethyl acetate, of the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus (Cyperaceae) were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in rats by inducing liver damage by carbon tetrachloride. The ethyl acetate extract at an oral dose of 100 mg/kg exhibited a significant protective effect by lowering serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic tran- saminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. These bio- chemical observations were supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections. Silymarin was used as positive control. Cyperus rotundus (Family-Cyperaceae) commonly known as mustaka is a pestiferous perennial weed and has an elaborate underground system consisting of tubers, rhi- zomes and roots'. It is one of the plants mentioned in the literature having claims of activity against liver disorders2. It contains a wide variety of phytoconstituents, which are use- ful in treatment of different ailments and include alkaloids, glycosides, essential oils and flavonoids (www.tiririca.com). The present s,tudy has been taken up to evaluate hepatoprotective activity of the rhizome extract of this plant in experimental animals against carbon tetrachloride (CCI4)- induced hepatotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus were colleted from an Ayurvedic drug shop in Vadodara, and their identity was con- firmed by specimen species preserved in Food and Drugs Laboratory (Botany section). The rhizomes were air-dried, powdered and used for further studies. All the chemicals used for serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) and total bilirubin (TB) determination were analytical grade of E. Merck, Mumbai and Qualigens, Mumbai. *For correspondence E-mail: sureshsolleti@yahoo.co.in. Preparation of extract: The powdered rhizomes were extracted with petro- leum ether (60-80°) to remove lipids and then again ex- tracted with chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol in soxhlet extractor. The solvents are distilled to concentrate the extracts and are dried in vacuum desiccator. The extrac- tive yield of chloroform and methanol are found to be less and ethyl acetate was found to contain flavonoids, when detected by thin layer chromatography3. Hence ethyl ac- etate extract was selected for hepatoprotective screening. All the test suspensions (100 mg/ml) were prepared in the vehicle i.e., 5% w/v acacia mucilage and were adminis- tered in the dose of 100 mg/kg4 orally. Toxicity studies: Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g of either sex, procured from Deep Bio-med animal supply, Ahmedabad, maintained under standard husbandry conditions (Temp 23:t2°, rela- tive humidity 55:t1 0% and 12 h light dark cycle) were used for all sets of experiments in groups of six animals. Animals were allowed to take standard laboratory feed and tap wa- ter. The ethyl acetate extract was administered to different groups of rats in doses ranging from 100-1000 mg/kg. There is no lethality in any of the groups. Hats, which received January - February 2005 Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 84