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Background: Indigofera suffruticosa Mill (Fabaceae) is abundant in northeastern Brazil and popularly used in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory processes. Several biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antitumor, hepatoprotective and low toxicity, are reported for this plant., Objective: This study investigated hepatoprotective activity and the antioxidant effect of methanolic extract of I. suffruticosa leaves (MEIS) on Swiss albino mice submitted to experimental models of acetaminophen-induced liver injury., Methods: MEIS (50 mg/kg; p.o.) was standardized according to the LD50 and its hepatoprotective property on Swiss albino mice evaluated during a 7-day period. On the eighth day, the acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury was performed. Histomorphometric analysis of liver tissue, antioxidant activity and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (AST), aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin were measured., Results: MEIS (50 mg/kg; p.o.) restored serum enzyme levels and results were close to those of positive control (silymarin) when compared to the negative control. Histopathological and histomorphometric analyzes confirmed MEIS hepatoprotective activity, showing reorganization of structural units of cells, nuclei and sinusoidal capillaries of hepatocytes, reducing the damage on liver tissue and increasing organ regeneration rate. MEIS showed high antioxidant potential at concentrations of 1000 and 500 µg/mL., Conclusion: This study suggests that MEIS has hepatoprotective activity and high antioxidant potential.

Objective: To investigate the antitumor activity of mice bearing sarcoma 180 cell lines treated with indican of Indigofera suffruticosa and the histological and morphometric analysis on the liver of those animals., Study Design: The mice were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (G1) and Group 3 (G3) bearing sarcoma 180, and Group 2 (G2) without sarcoma 180. G1 and G2 (controls) were administered saline; G3 was treated with indican (25 mg/kg, i.p.)., Results: The purified indican after subchronic treatment did not significantly reduce the mean volume of sarcoma 180 when compared with control G1. HistopathologicaI and morphometric analysis of the liver of G2 and G3 did not show degenerated areas, compared to. G1 which showed pronounced destruction of the liver architectures., Conclusion: The results showed that the inhibition of solid tumor growth was not significant; however, the indican from leaves of I. suffruticosa preserved the liver architectures, suggesting its use as an alternative protective agent of the liver tissue.