Optimization of Phyllanthus emblica L. leaf extract-assisted clearance of hyperbilirubinemia in White New Zealand albino rabbits

All parts of Phyllanthus emblica L. are traditionally used for the treatment of jaundice, inflammation, and diarrhea. The present study was planned to evaluate the P. emblica leaf extract (PELE) assisted clearance of bilirubin in artificially-induced hyperbilirubinemic rabbits. Hyperbilirubinemia was induced in White New Zealand albino rabbits by oral administration of phenyl hydrazine solution (10 mg kg(-1) body weight) and an intraperitoneal injection of ursodeoxycholic acid solution (10 mg kg(-1) bw). PELE-assisted bilirubin clearance from animals was optimized by a bi-factorial response-surface central composite design with five levels of each of the extract dose (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg kg(-1) bw) and sampling period (24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h). The oral administration of PELE showed a significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent linear increase in bilirubin clearance from hyperbilirubinemic rabbits. However, the sampling period showed no significant effect on bilirubin clearance. The optimum levels of PELE dose and sampling period for maximum clearance of bilirubin (0.658 mg dL(-1)) were found to be 94.864 mg kg(-1) body weight and 51.12 h respectively. PELE was found to be effective in bilirubin clearance at the observed optimum levels of extract dose and would be a good choice for the management of hyperbilirubinemia.