EFFECTS OF FEW INDIAN MEDICINAL HERBS ON CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED HEPATIC INJURY IN ANIMALS

used in number of hepatoprotective formulations based on their traditional claims. However, no published data showing the comparative study of these herbs is available. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of standardised herbal extracts of PN 142.5 mg/kg, p.o), AP (300 mg/kg, p.o) and PK (200 mg/kg, p.o) on carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) induced acute and chronic hepatic damage in rats. In chronic hepatitis, CCI4 (0.2 ml/kg, p.o) was administered twice weekly during eight weeks of extract treatment, whereas, in acute hepatitis, CCI4 (0.5 ml/kg, p.o) was given on 10th day of administration of extract. Liver injury was analyzed by estimating the biochemical marker enzymes levels and antioxidant activities. Histological studies were also carried out. Statistically significant reversal of the elevated serum levels and depleted tissue levels of biochemical marker enzymes were found as the biochemical indices for hepatoprotection. The histological scores and liver weight was significantly reduced as well as SOD and catalase activities were significantly increased in treated groups compared to CCI4 control. Further, PK and PN were found to be most and least effective respectively in chronic CCI4 induced liver damage, whereas, AP exhibited least protection than PN and PK in acute CCI4 hepatic injury. These results show that the standardised extracts PN, AP and PK possess hepatoprotective potential and prevented hepatic damage induced by CCI4