Study the Pharmacognostic Profile, Antiradical and Hepatoprotective Potential of Carissa carandas Linn. Fruit Extract.

Aims: Carissa carandas Linn. is a thorny shrub (Family: Apocynaceae), commonly called Karonda. The shrub can be grown in tropical and subtropical climate regions.

Methods and materials: The objective of the experimental work was to analyze the efficacy of fruit extract of C. carandas Linn. with respect to the hepatoprotective property using supportive evidence of in vitro and in vivo antiradical activity. The antioxidant activity of ethanolic fruit extract was determined by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide free radical scavenging assay, using Ascorbic acid as a standard drug. Oral administration of C. carandas Linn. ethanolic fruit extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) revealed a considerable marked protection property against acute hepatotoxicity induced by the carbon tetrachloride, moreover, that has been evaluated in terms of biochemical parameters.

Results: Administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induce amplified levels of serum biomarker enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the blood serum with attenuated in-vivo antioxidant enzymes levels such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase in hepatic tissues. The administration of fruit extract would reduce the CCl₄- induced hepatic toxicity; these effects may be due to the presence of phytochemicals including carbohydrates, tannins, phenolic components and flavonoids. However, HPLC and TLC studies would ensure the presence of gallic and quercetin in the ethanolic fruit extract of the plant.

Conclusion: The ethanolic fruit extract of C. carandas Linn. exhibits significant hepatoprotective activity which could be partly imputed to its both in-vitro as well as in-vivo antioxidant property, together with effective total phenolic and total flavonoid content and thus concedes for further findings.