Terminalia pallida (TP) Brandis is one of the oldest medicinal herb of India, is an ingredient of Indian Ayurvedic drug 'triphala' used for the treatment of digestion and liver disorders. In Indian traditional system of medicine, the fruits are also used in the treatment of hepatic disorders and treatment of diabetes by tribal people. Acetaminophen (APAP) is used as an analgesic which produces liver and kidney necrosis in mammals at high doses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract of Terminalia pallida at two doses level of 250 mg/kg & 500 mg/kg B/W on acetaminophen- induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The results of study showed that APAP significantly increased serum levels of GOT & GPT, ALP and total bilirubin. In addition, the ethanol extract of TP significantly (p<0.01) elevated the decreased level of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) & catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Histological analysis of the liver of these rats revealed marked necro-inflammatory changes by APAP and ethanol extract of TP attenuated the necro-inflammatory changes in the liver. The activity of ethanol extract of Terminalia pallida at 500 mg/kg B/W was comparable to the standard drug silymarin (25mg/kg B/W). This study reveals that ethanol extract of TP showed significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties from APAP induced liver damage & oxidative stress.
