Hepatoprotecive effect of Pongamia pinnata leaves in ammonium chloride induced hyperammonemic rats

Effect of Pongamia pinnata (an indigenous plant used in Ayurvedic Medicine in India) leaf extract (PPEt) on the levels of circulatory ammonia, urea, lipid peroxidation products such as TBARS (thio barbituric acid reactive substances), HP (hydroperoxides) and liver markers such as bilirubin, AST (aspartate transaminase), ALT (alanine transaminase), ALP (alkaline phosphatase), LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase), Gamma glutamyl-S-transferase (GGT) were studied for its hepatoprotective effect during ammonium chloride induced hyperammonemia. Ammonium chloride treated rats showed a significant increase in the levels of circulatory ammonia, urea, bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, GGT, TBARS and HP. These changes were significantly decreased in PPEt and ammonium chloride treated rats. Our in vitro studies have shown that PPEt effectively scavenge reactive oxygen species including superoxide anion, hydroxyl and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. Our results indicate that PPEt offers hepatoprotection by influencing the levels of lipid peroxidation products and liver markers in experimental hyperammonemia and this could be due to its ability to detoxify excess ammonia, urea and creatinine and free radical scavenging property (both in vitro and in vivo) by means of reducing lipid peroxidation and the presence of natural antioxidants.