Liver is a highly sensitive organ. Liver damage was induced in wistar rats by administration of 20% Ethanol for eighteen days and Saccharum officinarum was given for eight to eighteen days. Silymarin was used as reference drug. Levels of different marker enzymes were estimated in serum. A probe into the mechanism of action was attempted by estimating total protein, malondialdehyde and glutathione levels in liver homogenates in order to evaluate the degree of lipid peroxidation. Histopathological studies were also done to confirm the biochemical changes. In vitro, hepatocytes of control group were exposed to ethanol, while cell suspensions were pretreated with S. officianrum (1mg/ml) before exposure to ethanol and standard group received silymarin (1mg/ml) before exposure to ethanol. While in vitro model, estimation of percentage viability of hepatocytes was evaluated by trypan blue assay. Ethanol produced significant changes in physical (increased liver weight and volume), biochemical (increase in serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin and triglycerides), liver tissue (decreased total protein, GHS and increased MDA), histological (hepatocytes damage) and functional (thiopentone induced sleeping time) liver parameters. Treatment with S. officinarum juice significantly prevented the physical, biochemical, histological and functional changes induced by ethanol in the liver, while in vitro model exhibited significant increase in % viability of cells with pre exposure to S.officinarum and Silymarin as compared to ethanol control. Juice of S. officinarum exhibited significant hepatoprotective action against ethanol induced hepatic injury both in vivo and in vitro study.
