DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SOYA PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE COMPLEX OF COUMESTANS FROM ECLIPTA ALBA FOR THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF HEPATOTOXICITY

It is known that Eclipta alba Hassk. (Family: Compositae) contains coumestans (Wedelolactone and dimethyl wedelolactone) are used in liver disorders. The objective of the present investigation was to develop a novel formulation of these coumestans in combination with the soya phosphatidylcholine (PC), to overcome the limitation of absorption and to investigate the protective effect of the coumestans-phosphatidylcholine complex (C-PC) on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver damage in rats. Methanolic extract (ME) of the whole plant of Eclipta alba was fractionated with water and then with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate fraction of methanolic extract (EFME) contains coumestans which were characterized by chemical tests. EFME and PC prepared the C-PC. FT-IR and DSC spectroscopy characterized the C-PC. In-vitro drug release from EFME and C-PC through egg membrane was performed using UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The hepatoprotective activity of C-PC (Equivalent to 5.35 and 10.7 mg/kg body weight of EFME), ME 250 mg/kg and EFME 5.35 mg/kg were evaluated on various enzymes level. C-PC significantly provided better protection to the liver by restoring the enzyme levels of SGPT (Serum glutamate pyruvic transaminase), SGOT (Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase), ALP (Alkaline phosphatase) and total bilirubin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced liver damaged animals (P<0.001). Histopathological studies were performed, and the results showed that the C-PC provided better protection to rat liver than ME and EFME at similar doses as well as shown significant regeneration of hepatocytes, central vein, intact cytoplasm and nucleus.