Antihepatotoxic effect of Nymphaea stellata willd., against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in albino rats.

Nymphaea stellata willd., a medicinal plant mentioned in Ayurveda for the treatment of liver disorders, has not been subjected to systematic scientific investigations to asses its hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of extract of Nymphaea stellata willd., flower against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in albino rats. The oral administration of varying dosage of extract of Nymphaea stellata willd., flower to rats for 10 days afforded the good hepatoprotection against carbon tetrachloride-induced elevation in serum marker enzymes, serum bilirubin, liver lipid peroxidation and reduction in liver glutathione, liver glutathione peroxidase, glycogen, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity.