The hepatoprotective effects of seeds of Syzygium cumini L. (Family: Myrtaceae), presumed to be effective in treating gastrointestinal diseases of animals, have not been investigated before, particularly in liver damage caused by infections, chemicals and xenobiotics. Therefore, this aimed at investigating the hepatoprotective effects of methanol extracts of plant seeds in chemically (CCl₄) induced stress rats. Adult male, Sprague Dawley rats (n=30) were randomly segregated into 5 equal groups i.e., group-I (control), group-II (silymarin treated; 1.0 mg/kg BW), group-III (extract of Syzygium cumini seeds treated; 250 mg/kg BW), group-IV (extract treated; 500 mg/kg) and group-V (CCl₄ treated; 1.5 mg/kg). Rats were treated with respective treatments for 14 consecutive days. At day 14, four hours after the last dose, an oral dose of CCl₄ (1.5 mg/Kg, 1:1 in olive oil) was administered to all the groups, except animals in the control group. Subsequently, 24h later, blood samples and liver tissues were collected for biochemical analysis and histopathology, respectively. The values of liver function markers were found to be significantly (P<0.05) lower while serum protein level was significantly higher in control and treated groups as compared to that of the CCl₄ treated group. Histological examination of liver tissues also indicated that the extract of Syzygium cumini seeds in both the doses, and silymarin protected the liver from CCl₄-induced stress. It was concluded that extract of seed of Syzygium cumini has hepatoprotective activity.

Key words: CCl₄-induced toxicity, Hepatoprotective activity, Liver histopathology, Methanol extract, Myrtaceae, Syzygium cumini L.