Prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity by the ethanol extract of Capparis moonii fruits in rats

The effect of the ethanol extract of Capparis moonii Hook. f. Thoms. (Capparidaceae) fruits was studied in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The hepatotoxicity was induced in rats with the administration of 1 : 1 (v/v) mixture of CCl4 in olive oil at the dose of 1 ml/kg subcutaneously on day 7. The ethanol extract of C. moonii (200 mg/kg) and the standard drug silymarin (25 mg/kg) were given orally from day 1 to day 9. The extract of C. moonii produced significant (p < 0.001) lowering of the elevated Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminace (SGOT) Serum glutamicpyraric transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and a rise of depleted total protein when compared with the toxic control. The results were comparable with the standard drug silymarin.