Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, and Anthelmintic Activities of Methanol Extract of Urtica dioica L. Leaves

ABSTRACT

The antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and anthelmintic activities of methanol extract of leaves of Urtica dioica L. (MEUD) were investigated in the present study. Hepatoprotective potential of the extract was evaluated against CCl4– induced hepatic injury in Wister rats. In addition, reducing power assay, determination of total antioxidant activity, DPPH radical scavenging activity and nitric oxide scavenging activity were investigated to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of the extract. The results indicated significant antioxidant activity of the extract comparable to standard antioxidant compounds like α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole). Significant hepatoprotective profile was also observed with maximum hepatoprotection at the dose of 400 mg/kg as suggested by decreased level of serum ALT, AST, ALP and total bilirubin levels towards normalization. Pretreatment of animals with the extract at all the dose level (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) resulted a significant decrease in malonyldehyde (MDA) level as well as a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) level clearly indicating inhibition of lipid peroxidation and improvement of antioxidant defense enzyme system. Anthelmintic activity of the methanol extract was also investigated using adult Indian earth worms (Pheretima posthuma) and the results revealed a dose dependent increase in anthelmintic activity of the extract at 25, 50, and 100 mg/mL concentrations.