Protective Effect of Methanolic Extract of Hylocereus polyrhizus Fruits on Carbon Tetra Chloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rat

Aims: This research investigated the Protective effect of methanolic extract of Hylocereus Polyrhizus fruits on carbon tetra chloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss-albino rat.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacy, IIUC, Chittagong, Bangladesh and Functional Food Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Gangneung Institute, Gangneung, Korea, between August 2011 to October, 2012.

Methodology: Hepatoprotective potential was evaluated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver injured animal model using male albino rats. Carbon tetrachloride significantly elevated the serum levels of biochemical markers like ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, total protein, total cholesterol, triglycerides.

Results: The methanolic extract of Hylocereus polyrhizus at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight (p.o.) significantly protected the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver toxicity in albino rat model. The activity of extract was also comparable to that of silymarin, a known hepatoprotective drug.

Conclusion: The study suggests that oral intake of Hylocereus polyrhizus fruits extract enhances the defense status against liver injury.