Hepatoprotective activity and phenolic profile of Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb. fruit extract.

Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb. (Rutaceae) is a medicinal plant, which abundantly grows in the hilly areas of Pakistan. In the present study, the hepatoprotective activity of the Z. alatum whole fruit was evaluated. The hepatoprotective effect of the aqueous extracts was studied on mice liver damage using a single dose of paracetamol (640 mg/kg) orally by monitoring biochemical parameters. Pre-treatment of mice with Z. alatum (100 mg/kg) aqueous extract orally for four days prevented the paracetamol induced rise in serum transaminases (ALT and AST), restored the altered levels of antioxidant enzyme (catalase), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), non-protein thiol and ascorbic acid to near normal levels. The major phenolic acids, some flavonoid aglycone and glycosides were identified in fruit by high performance liquid chromatography. Ellagic acid (24.57±0.01mg/g), chlorogenic acid (10.65±0.01mg/g), gallic acid (9.15±0.02mg/g), chrysin (16.81±0.03), quercetin (16.81±0.03mg/g) and epicatechin (10.93±0.01) were prédominant in infusion of Z. alatum. The result substianted the hepatoprotective activity of Z. alatum which may be associated with its potential use in liver disease.