HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF 50% ETHANOL EXTRACT OF SEAGRASS RHIZOME (CYMODOCEA ROTUNDATA) AGAINST LIVER TISSUES IN PARACETAMOL-INDUCED RATS

Objective: This study aimed to determine the hepatoprotective effect of 50% ethanol extract of seagrass rhizome in terms of serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activities in paracetamol-induced rat plasma.Methods: This study included 28 male, white rats randomly divided into seven groups. Groups I and II represented the normal control and controlgroups, respectively, administered with 280 mg/kg BW of rhizome extract. Group III represented the negative control group induced by a suspensionof paracetamol (2g/kg BW). Group IV represented a positive control group administered with Hepa-Q® at a dosage of 150 mg/kg BW. Groups V, VI,and VII were administered with seagrass rhizome extract at doses of 140, 280, and 560 mg/kg BW, respectively, before paracetamol induction. Thetest material was orally administered for 17 days. On days 12–17, the rats were induced with paracetamol through the same route. On day 18, bloodsampling was performed followed by SGOT and SGPT plasma measurements.Results: Our results revealed that seagrass rhizome extracts could significantly decrease SGPT and SGOT levels in paracetamol-induced rats (p<0.05)compared with those in the negative control group.Conclusion: Thus, seagrass rhizome extracts possess the potential for development as a hepatoprotective agent