Hepatoprotective activity of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Luffa cylindrica </i>(L.) M. J. Roem<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">.</i> leaf extract in paracetamol intoxicated rats

143-148Methanolic extract of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. J. Roem. leaves (MELC) was evaluated for its hepatoprotective potential against paracetamol intoxicated wistar rats. Administration of MELC and standard drug silymarin showed significant (P <0.05) hepatoprotective protection in experimental animals. The study was conducted by estimating serum enzyme activities of serum glutamate oxaloacatate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT)), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin and by estimation of some serum antioxidant enzymes. Elevated serum marker enzymes of SGOT, SGPT, ALP and serum bilirubin were significantly (P <0.001) reduced to near normal level in MELC treated animals. Lipid peroxidation level was decreased significantly by MELC 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg doses treatment groups. In case of antioxidant enzymes SOD, GSH and catalase levels were increased significantly (P