IN VITRO EVALUATION OF THE SYNERGISTIC HEPATOPROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF FICUS BENGHALENSIS AND TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA AGAINST DRUG-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN HEPG2 CELLS

Background: Drug-induced hepatotoxicity is a major cause of liver injury and is associated with oxidative stress, membrane damage, and depletion of endogenous antioxidant defenses. Ficus benghalensis and Tinospora cordifolia possess diverse phytoconstituents and have been traditionally used for various liver-related disorders. However, their combined hepatoprotective potential against drug-induced hepatotoxicity requires further investigation. The present study evaluated the individual and combined hepatoprotective effects of these plants in HepG2 cells. Methodology: Methanolic extracts of F. benghalensis and T. cordifolia were prepared and subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. HepG2 cells were exposed to a hepatotoxic drug to establish an in vitro hepatotoxicity model. Cytotoxicity of both extracts was assessed by the MTT assay, and 200 µg/mL was selected as the treatment concentration. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated using cell viability, morphological changes, LDH release, ROS, MDA, GSH, SOD, CAT, and total protein levels. Results: The hepatotoxic drug reduced cell viability to 51.26 ± 2.91%, whereas treatment with F. benghalensis and T. cordifolia increased viability to 72.84 ± 2.63% and 76.52 ± 2.47%, respectively. Combined treatment produced 88.67 ± 2.21% viability and 76.17% hepatoprotection, compared with 42.54% and 51.06% for the individual extracts. The combination reduced LDH, ROS, and MDA levels while restoring GSH, SOD, CAT, and total protein levels. Conclusion: The combined extracts demonstrated enhanced hepatoprotective activity compared with individual treatments, suggesting complementary or potential synergistic effects. However, formal concentration-response synergy analysis and further molecular and in vivo studies are required to confirm synergism.