Evaluation of the Hepatoprotective Activity of the Wood of Heliciopsis lobata (Merr.) Sleumer

Abstract

Heliciopsis lobata (Merr.) Sleumer is a popular herbal material in the North-West territories of Vietnam. The wood of this plant is still used for the treatment of some liver diseases, although there is no scientific evidence for evaluating these activities and the safety of this herbal material. Our study focused on accessing acute toxicity and hepatoprotective activity of water extract from the wood of Heliciopsis lobata. Among experimental groups of mice induced by high dosage of paracetamol, mice were treated with extract at dosages of 0.56 g/kg, 1.15 g/kg and 2.30 g/kg could be against liver damage with different levels. Water extract at dosages of 0.56 g/kg and 1.15 g/kg could maintain the original situation of livers; significantly reduced the increase of ALT and AST enzymes at levels of about 80% and 87% respectively; significantly reduced 70% the increase of AST, and against most of the peroxidation process in liver tissue. A dosage of 2.30 g/kg expressed lower hepatoprotective activities in comparison with the former dosages and which may increase liver toxicity when used with high dosages of paracetamol. The highest experimental dosage at 32.60 g/kg did not show acute toxicity by independent oral administration. It could be concluded that water extract of the wood of Heliciopsis lobata exposed hepatoprotective ability with dosage from 0.56 g/kg to 1.15 g/kg, equivalent to dosages from 60 g to 120 g for humans per day.

Keywords: Hepatoprotective, ALT, AST, TBARs, Heliciopsis lobata, acute toxicity.