alpha-Amyrin (a pentacyclic triterpene widely distributed in nature and isolated from a variety of plant sources and pharmacologically shown a wide spectrum of activity including anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-tumor, and hepatoprotective actions) explored as hepatomodulator from the ethanol extract of the stem bark of Alstonia scholaris Linn. METHODS AND RESULTS: Experimental rats, hepato-oxidatively stressed by CCl4 (0.2 ml/kg b wt/twice a week, intra-peritoneally), were concurrently received alpha-Amyrin (20mg/kg body weight/day, orally) for 30 consecutive days. The assessment of all biochemical parameters registered a significant (P<0.001) hepatic oxidative stress in CCl4 treated rats, which was considerably recovered near to almost normal level in rats co-administered with alpha-Amyrin at the dose level of 20mg/kg body weight/day for 30 consecutive days. The histoarchitectural examination of liver sections from treated groups further corroborated the hepatomodulatory potential of alpha-Amyrin and compared with standard drug-silymarin. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the modulatory potential of alpha-Amyrin against hepatic oxidative stress possibly involve mechanism related to its ability to block the P-450 mediated CCl4 bioactivation through selective inhibitors of ROS (reactive oxygen species) as antioxidants brought about significant inhibition of the formation of LPO suggesting possible involvement of O2(●-), HO2, HO2(●-), H2O2 and •OH. Therefore this study suggests that the use of alpha-Amyrin as a hepatomodulatory potent to feasibility for a promising liver curative drug. |