Phyto-Phospholipid Complex of Eclipta alba Extract Containing Coumestans for the Management of Hepatotoxicity

Background: Eclipta alba Hassk. (Family: Compositae) contains coumestans useful in liver problems. The present work is aimed to develop a new formulation of plant-derived coumestans in combination with the soya-phosphatidylcholine (PC) and it is expected to improve the absorption of coumestans. The study also examines the protective effect of coumestans-phosphatidylcholine complex (C-PC) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced acute liver injury in rats. Method: Coumestans (C) were characterized in the ethyl acetate fraction of methanolic extract (EFME). The C-PC was characterized by DSC and FTIR spectroscopy. In vitro drug release from EFME and C-PC through egg-membrane was measured using a UVVisible 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 was analyzed by assessing the level of various enzymes. Conclusion: C-PC significantly (P<0.001) provided better protection to the liver by normalizing the levels of enzymes SGPT, SGOT, ALP and total bilirubin when compared to CCl4 group. The histopathological study showed that C-PC showed improvement in rat’s liver as compared to ME and EFME at similar doses as they showed regeneration of hepatocytes, central vein, intact cytoplasm and nucleus.