Biological Studies of Indigenous Medicinal Plants-II: Effects of Aplotaxis Iappa Dcne on various parameters of liver metabolism in rabbits

The effects of Aplotaxis lappa Dcne roots and its ethanol extract were studies on serum glutamate oxalacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and biochemical parameters such as serum total proteins, glucose, cholesterol, total lipids and uric acid levels. The crude drug significantly decreased the SGPT and LDH activities, while its ethanol extract did not disturb the activities of these enzymes. Serum alkaline phosphatase was also not effected by crude powdered drug; whereas its ethanolic extract significantly decreased it. The SGOT was also not effected by both the crude powder and its ethanol extract. A significant hyperglycemia was produced by both of the crude drug and its ethanol extract. The cholesterol and total lipid contents were decreased by the crude drug only; whereas total proteins and uric acid were not effected. The possible mechanisms of these effects have been discussed.