Hepatoprotective studies on Sida acuta Burm. f.

Sida acuta Burm. f. (Malvaceae) is used in Indian traditional medicine to treat liver disorders and is useful in treating nervous and urinary diseases and also disorders of the blood and bile. Evaluation of the hepatoprotective properties of the methanolic extract of the root of Sida acuta (SA) and the phytochemical analysis of SA. The model of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats, liver histopathological observations, hexobarbitone-induced narcosis and in vitro anti-lipid peroxidation studies were employed to assess the hepatoprotective efficacy of SA. Phytochemical assay of SA was conducted following standard protocols. Significant hepatoprotective effects were obtained against liver damage induced by paracetamol overdose as evident from decreased serum levels of glutamate pyruvate transaminase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin in the SA treated groups (50, 100, 200mg/kg) compared to the intoxicated controls. The hepatoprotective effect was further verified by histopathology of the liver. Pretreatment with Sida acuta extract significantly shortened the duration of hexobarbitone-induced narcosis in mice indicating its hepatoprotective potential. Phytochemical studies confirmed the presence of the phenolic compound, ferulic acid in the root of Sida acuta, which accounts for the significant hepatoprotective effects observed in the present study. The present study thus provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of this plant in the management of liver disorders.