Hepatoprotective Effect of Leaves of Morinda tinctoria Roxb. Against Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats

Aim: To study the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of 50% aqueous-alcoholic leaves extract of Morinda tinctoria (Rubiaceae) against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Study Design: All experiments involving animals complies with the ethical standards of animal handling and approved by institutional animal ethical and welfare committee of the Institute of Pharmacy, PSIT (1273/AC/09/ CPCSEA) and plant were collected from Ranan Nagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India and was authenticated by Dr. Navin K. Ambasht, Head and Associate Professor, Botany Department, Christ Church College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at Institute of Pharmacy, PSIT, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, during 2018-21.

Methodology: The hepatoprotective potential of Morinda tinctoria leaves extract (MTLE) 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight was studied on Methionine and Choline deficient diet, High Fat Diet, Cholesterol and Cholate diet, and Streptozotocin + HFD induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. At the end of the treatment blood sample was collected from direct cardiac puncture and analysed for various parameter like alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, triglycerides, total cholesterol, free fatty acid and malondialdehyde.

Results: The phytochemical investigation of extract showed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, amino acid, saponin, tannins, phenols, carbohydrate and for the first time the present study showed that Morinda tinctoria leaves extract reduced level of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, free fatty acid, malondialdehyde and enhance the level of Superoxide dismutase, High Density Lipoprotein and it also returned hepatic damage towards normal which further supports hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of M. tinctoria. leaves extracts.

Conclusions: M. tinctoria leaves extract showed maximum curation in the dose 300 mg/kg body weight against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.