Abstract

In the previous studies, it was revealed that Mitragyna rotundifolia Kuntze (MR) had strong antioxidant activity in vitro. Oxidative stress is considered to play a prominent causative role in the development of various hepatic disorders. n-Butanol extract from M. rotundifolia barks (MRBBU) and leaves (MRLBU) were investigated, and it played a protective role against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver injury in mice. The degree of protection has been measured by using biochemical parameters, such as serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver tissue homogenate. The results of the intragastric administration of MRBBU (300, 150 and 75 mg/kg body weight per day, respectively) and MRLBU (300, 150 and 75 mg/kg body weight per day, respectively) on CCL₄-induced acute liver injury in mice for 8 days demonstrated that the level of GPT and GOT in each treatment group decreased significantly (P < 0.001). It was observed that the level of liver MDA in MRLBU (75 mg/kg) group did not significantly decreased (P > 0.05), but that in the other treatment groups significantly decreased (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). With the exception of MRLBU group (150 and 75 mg/kg) (P > 0.05), the level of SOD in other treatment groups significantly increased (P < 0.001, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Results indicated that MR has hepatoprotective effect against CCl₄-induced oxidative damage in mice, and the hepatoprotective effect may be correlated with its antioxidant effects.

Key words: Mitragyna rotundifolia Kuntze, antioxidant activity, carbon tetrachloride, hepatoprotective effect.