Myrin®-p Forte is an anti-tuberclosis agent that can cause hepatic injuries in clinical settings. Maytenus royleanus (Celastraceae) is a medicinal plant, possesses antioxidant and anticancer activities. The hepatoprotective effect of the methanol extract of Maytenus royleanus leaves (MEM) against Myrin®-p Forte induced hepatotoxicity in mice was investigated.

Mice were randomly parted into six groups (n = 6). Fixed-dose combination of Myrin®-p Forte (13.5 mg/kg Rifampicin, 6.75 mg/kg Isoniazid, 36.0 mg/kg Pyrazinamide and 24.8 mg/kg Ethambutol; RIPE] was administered for 15 days to induce liver injury. In treatment groups MEM (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses) and Vitamin B6 (180mg/kg) were administered prior to RIPE. Control group received 2% DMSO. Serum liver function tests, DNA damage, tissue antioxidant enzymes and histopathological alterations were studied. HPLC analysis was performed to determine the chemical composition using standard compounds.

The quercitin, gallic acid, luteolin, viteixin, apigenin, kaempherol, hyperoside and myricetin contents of all samples were determined by reverse-phase HPLC. Quercetin (0.217 mg/g dry weight) and luteolin (0.141 mg/g dry weight) were the major flavonoids identified in MEM. Myrin®-p Forte markedly (p < 0.05) deteriorated lipid profile and upregulated the concentration of LDH, AST, ALP, ALT and γ-GT in serum along with DNA fragmentation (37.13 ± 0.47%) and histopathological injuries in hepatic tissues of mice compared with the control group. Myrin®-p Forte increased (p < 0.001) lipid peroxidation and H₂O₂ while decreased (p < 0.001) the activity level of CAT, SOD, POD, GPx, GST, GSR, γ-GT and GSH. Co-administration of MEM (200 mg/kg; 400 mg/kg) or the vitamin B6 (180 mg/kg) to Myrin®-p Forte administered mice significantly ameliorated LDL, cholesterol, HDL and triglyceride content. Furthermore, MEM dose dependently corrected serum liver function tests, decrease % DNA fragmentation (17.82 ± 0.35 and 7.21 ± 0.32 respectively), DNA damage. MEM treated protect RIPE induced oxidative damage by enhancing antioxidants to oxidants balance. Histological examination comprehends biochemical findings.

The antioxidant effects of MEM exerted the hepatoprotective potential against the Myrin®-p Forte induced hepatotoxicity in mice.