Antioxidant Activity and Hepatoprotective Potential of Piper chaba Roots against Paracetamol-Induced Liver Injury

Paracetamol induces oxidative damage of liver and hepatotoxicity continues to be among the main threats of public health. The present study evaluated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of P. chaba roots. Hepatoprotective effects were demonstrated by significant alteration of serum biomarker enzymes and antioxidant enzymes. Co-administration of P. chaba extract to paracetamol-induced rats resulted in a partial recovery in the serum biochemical parameters (SGOT, SGPT, ALP and Bilirubin). However, ethanolic extract of Piper chaba at lower dose (200 mg/kg b.w.) was more effective than the higher dose 400 mg/kg b.w. in reducing serum dysfunction biomarker enzymes. The histopathological studies of liver tissues also showed better hepatoprotective activity of Piper chaba roots at the lower dose (200 mg/kg b.w.). Paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats resulted in increase of antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase, super oxide dismutase. The scavenging activity of P. chaba extract was moderate when compared with standard catechin and the IC50 values of P. chaba and standard catechin were 1.563 ± 0.70 and 3.125 ± 0.676, respectively in DPPH radical scavenging assay. The total antioxidant potential of P. chaba was concentration dependent and revealed promising antioxidant activity as compared to the reference standard catechin. At a concentration of 100 μg/mL the absorbance of P. chaba extract and catechin were 0.430 and 0.746 respectively. The research result indicated that P. chaba extract has protective effects on paracetamol induced oxidative stress and liver damage.