HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF TABERNAEMONTANA DIVARICATA LINN. AGAINST PARACETAMOL INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS

V. Umarani and V. Chitra

The present study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Tabernaemontana divaricata Linn.against paracetamol induced liver damage in rats. The hydroalcoholic extract of Tabernamontana divaricata Linn. (600mg/kg) was administered orally to the animals with hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol (3gm/kg). Silymarin (25mg/kg) was given as reference standard. All the test drugs were administered orally by suspending in 0.5% Carboxy methyl cellulose solution. The plant extract was effective in protecting the liver against the injury induced by paracetamol in rats. This was evident from significant reduction in serum enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin. It was concluded from the result that the hydroalcoholic extract of Tabernaemontana divaricata possesses hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats.