Amelioration of Experimental Hepatotoxicity in Rats by Portulaca oleracea Linn. from Kashmir Himalaya

Background: Traditionally, Portulaca oleracea Linn for treating abscesses, dysentery, and also for the treatment of liver diseases. Recent studies have reported its efficacy as neuroprotective, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, a bronchodilator, anticancer, antioxidant, wound healing, besides other important pharmacological actions. Aim and Objective: For curing liver diseases, Chinese use juice from the fresh leaves of Portulaca oleracea Linn, hence to prove this claim an in-vivo hepatoprotective study of extracts from Portulaca oleracea Linn. against carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxic rats. Methods: The in-vitro antioxidant activity by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and hepatoprotective activity of extracts of Portulaca oleracea Linn. was assessed against the carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity rat model. Results: The extracts of Portulaca oleracea Linn produced concentration-dependent percentage inhibition of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and most significantly by methanol extract. Among the extracts, methanol extract showed a significant decrease in Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, and a significant increase in total protein (TP) levels against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver toxicity. Conclusion: The results obtained showed that methanol extract of Portulaca oleracea Linn. possesses significant DPPH free radical scavenging and hepatoprotective potential.