Organprotective and Antioxidant Activities of Amaranthus Retroflexus Leaves Against Paracetamol Induced Hepatic Damage in Albino Rats Albino Rats

Amaranthus retroflexus is a well known medicinal plant. Our aim is to investigate its organ protection property. Aqueous extract of Amaranthus retroflexus leaves was taken and the parameters studied were serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins and alkaline phosphatase activities. Bio-chemical studies of blood samples of paracetamol treated animals showed significant increase in the levels of serum markers and decrease in high density lipoproteins reflecting the liver injury caused by paracetamol. Whereas, the animals treated with aqueous extract of Amaranthus retroflexus showed significant dose dependent decrease in the elevated levels of serum markers and increase in high density lipoproteins indicating the protection of hepatic cells. Results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance by Dunnet’s ‘t’ test. Therefore aqueous extract afford significant protection against paracetamol induced hepatocellular injury and remarkable rejuvenation of these tissues found in histopathological studies which may be due to polyphenols and its antioxidant activities.