Abstract

Showkat Ahmad Ganie, Ehtishamul Haq, Akbar Masood and Mohmmad Afzal Zargar*

Antioxidant activity of 70% ethanolic extract of rhizome of Podophyllum hexandrum (Indian Mayapple) was investigated in rats by inducing kidney and lung injury with CCl4. 70% ethanolic extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity in the tissues by showing increased levels of proteins, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as well as decreased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The 70% ethanolic extract at a dose level of 20, 30 and 50 mg/kg-day, showed a dose dependent restorative activity against CCl4- induced kidney and lung tissue damage. In our previous study 70% ethanolic extract of P. hexandrum had displayed a potent free radical scavenging activity under in vitro conditions. In the present study, the 70% ethanolic extract of P. hexandrum was effective in restoring CCl4-intoxicated kidney and lung tissue enzymes towards normalcy in combating oxidative stress in vivo. Thus, the extract has antioxidative activity.