International Journal of Biochemistry Research & Review

Arsenic toxicity has been linked to liver cancer and medicinal plants are possible sources of antidote to arsenicosis. Andrographis paniculata (AP), generally known as king of bitters has various pharmacological as well as medicinal properties. In the present study, the protective effect of AP leaves on sodium arsenite (SA) induced hepatotoxicity and clastogenicity in albino wistar rats was evaluated. Forty male albino rats were randomly divided into eight groups. Group 1 received distilled water only, group 2 was given 5 mg/kg body weight of sodium arsenite orally on 7^th 14^th, 21^st and 28^th day of the experiment while group 3, group 4 and group 5 were administered daily with 200mg/kg bwt, 500mg/kg bwt and 1000mg/kg bwt of aqueous extract of AP respectively simultaneously with 5 mg/kg bwt of SA once a week. Groups 6, 7 and 8 were treated with only extracts at 200 mg/kg bwt, 500 mg/kg bwt and 1000 mg/kg bwt respectively daily. Finding from the study indicated that SA significantly increased the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte cells (mPCEs) formation by 2.5 folds relative to control. The number of mPCEs scored was significantly reduced by pretreatment with all doses of AP. Also, there was a significant (p <0.05) increase in serum g-GT, ALT, AST and ALP enzymes activities in SA treated group relative to the control group. However, rats treated with AP and SA had significantly decreased values of g-GT, ALT, AST and ALP relative to SA alone treated group. Histological analysis showed that AP at 200 and 500 mg/kg is non- toxic and elicited hepatoprotective effect. Therefore, revealed the aqueous extracts of AP leaves ameliorated SA induced hepatotoxicity and clastogenicity in wistar male rats.