284 Research Paper Protective activity of Protective activity of Protective activity of Protective activity of Protective activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra Glycyrrhiza glabra Glycyrrhiza glabra Glycyrrhiza glabra Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. on carbon Linn. on carbon Linn. on carbon Linn. on carbon Linn. on carbon tetrachloride-induced peroxidative damage tetrachloride-induced peroxidative damage tetrachloride-induced peroxidative damage tetrachloride-induced peroxidative damage tetrachloride-induced peroxidative damage M. G. Rajesh, M. S. Latha ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the potential efficacy of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. (Fabaceae) in protecting tissues from peroxidative damage in CCl 4 -intoxicated rats. Material and Methods: Peroxidative hepatic damage in rats was studied by assessing parameters such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes (CD), superoxidedismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxi- dase (GSH-Px) and glutathione (GSH) in liver and kidneys. The effect of co-administration of G. glabra on the above parameters and histopathological findings of the liver in experimental animals was studied. Results: The increased lipid peroxide formation in the tissues of CCl 4 -treated rats was significantly inhibited by G. glabra. The observed decreased antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD, CAT, GSH- Px, GST, and antioxidant concentration of glutathione were nearly normalized by G. glabra treat- ment. Carbon tetrachloride-induced damage produces alteration in the antioxidant status of the tissues, which is manifested by abnormal histopathology. G. glabra restored all these changes. Conclusion: Glycyrrhiza glabra is a potential antioxidant and attenuates the hepatotoxic effect of CCl 4 . KEY WORDS: Lipid peroxidation, hepatotoxicity, antioxidants School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, P. D. Hills, P. O., Kottayam - 686 560, India. Received: 23.5.2003 Revised: 10.2.2004 Accepted: 15.2.2004 Correspondence to: M. S. Latha E-mail: mslathas@eudoramail.com Introduction The liver is an organ of paramount importance, which plays an essential role in the metabolism of foreign compounds en- tering the body. Human beings are exposed to these compounds through environmental exposure, consumption of contaminated food or during exposure to chemical substances in the occu- pational environment. In addition, human beings consume a lot of synthetic drugs during diseased conditions which are alien to body organs. All these compounds produce a variety of toxic manifestations. 1 Conventional drugs used in the treat- ment of liver diseases are often inadequate. It is therefore necessary to search for alternative drugs for the treatment of liver diseases to replace the currently used drugs of doubtful efficacy and safety. India is well known for a plethora of medicinal plants. The medicinal use of many plants (as hepatoprotectants) like Andrographis paniculata, Azadirachta indica, Cassia fistula, Elephantopus scaber, Hibiscus rosasinensis, Phyllanthus debilis, Picrorrhiza kurroa has been reported in the literature. 2-3 Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. of the family Fabaceae is a tall perennial undershrub. Its underground stems and roots are used medicinally. Its hypocholesterolaemic and hypoglycemic activities have been reported. 4 It is known in the traditional system of medicine for its use in liver dis- eases. It is a major component of many antihepatotoxic polyherbal formulations. 5 Isoflavan derivatives glabridin, hisplaglabridin A, hisplaglabridin B and 4’ O-methyl glabridin have been isolated from G. glabra. These chemi- cals were reported to provide protection against oxidative stress. 6 The biochemical damage produced by active oxy- gen species and free radicals has emerged as a fundamen- tal pathway of liver injury. Despite the use of G. glabra in liver disorders, no systematic studies on its active oxygen scavenging properties have been reported. In this commu- nication, we present the antiperoxidative effect of G. gla- bra on CCl 4 -induced oxidative damage in rats, supported by histopathological evidence. Indian J Pharmacol | October 2004 | Vol 36 | Issue 5 | 284-287 [Downloaded free from http://www.ijp-online.com on Tuesday, May 05, 2015, IP: 1.39.62.242]