Antioxidant Profiling and Hepatoprotective Potential of Methanolic Extract of Mucuna pruriens Seeds in Male Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: Mucuna pruriens (L.) is a tropical medicinal plant, used in folkloric medicine to treat various ailments. The current research was planned to study the antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of Mucuna pruriens (M. pruriens) seeds methanolic extract using male albino rats. Methods: For the study, M. pruriens seeds methanolic extract was prepared, and antioxidant potential was determined. The methanolic extract of M. pruriens seeds was evaluated for antioxidant potential through different in vitro antioxidant assays. For hepatoprotective potential, the male albino rats were divided into six groups intoxicated with Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl₄) except the normal control group rats. The rats in the test groups were treated by administering different dose concentrations of M. pruriens seeds extract. Liver enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as serum proteins, were determined using kit methods. Oxidative stress markers such as total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also determined. Results: Results showed the significant antioxidant potential of M. pruriens seeds methanolic extract. Significant (p < 0.05) improvements in ALT and AST activities were observed, while ALP activity showed no significant improvement in test group rats treated with M. Pruriens seeds methanolic extract compared to the intoxicated group rats. Significant (p < 0.05) variation in serum total protein, albumin and globulin level was noted in test groups rats treated with M. pruriens seeds extract. Significant (p < 0.05) increase in TAS, while at the same time, a decrease in TOS and lipid peroxidation in test group rats administered with varying doses of M. pruriens seeds methanolic extract compared to the toxic group rats verifies the antioxidant potential of this plant. The structure of hepatocytes was damaged in CCl₄ intoxicated rats, with improved histological characteristics of liver tissue in positive control rats administered with Silymarin and in test group rats treated with M. pruriens seeds methanolic extract. Conclusions: The study concluded that the methanolic extract of M. pruriens seeds possess antioxidant activities, ameliorating oxidative stress with potential therapeutic applications as a hepatoprotective agent in folkloric medicine.