Hepatoprotective Role of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees as a Potential Iron Chelating Drug

Exceeding iron levels in the body get accumulated in the liver and other vital organs that induce oxidative stress in the affected areas , which is clinically diagnosed as “iron overload”. Present study was undertaken to investigate the role of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees, an endemic species of North-east India, in ameliorating such diseased conditions. Our results indicate that the methanolic leaf extract of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus (PTME) exhibits excellent iron chelation and antioxidant activities in dose dependent manner in vitro. To understand the in vivo conditions, thirty six mice were divided into six groups which were treated with differing doses of PTME. Levels of serum markers ALT and AST significantly elevates during diseased conditions but PTME treated mice have shown a marked decrease in the group (S200) by 39.24 and 17.24%. On the contrary lowering levels of liver antioxidant enzymes (GST, GSH, SOD and CAT) indicates stress. But 200mg/kg b.w of PTME treated groups restored the enzyme to optimum levels. Morphological changes were observed through histopathological analysis of liver tissues and we found significant differences in them . PTME was found to be completely nontoxic in the in vivo treatment, suggesting its feasibility as a safe oral drug. The above study suggests that PTME contributed to its free radical scavenging and iron chelation activity; however, further studies are required for the assessment of the phytoconstituents and the pathways through which it act to treat iron-overload diseases.