Hepatoprotective Effect of Zanthoxylum armatum DC

The liver is the prime organ concerned with various states of metabolic and physiologic homeostasis of organism and is a key organ of metabolism and excretion playing an important role in the maintenance of internal environment of the body through its multiple and diverse functions. It is continuously exposed to a variety of xenobiotics and therapeutic agents exposing the organ to numerous and varied disorders. There is a progressive increase in the incidence of hepatic damage mainly due to the viral infection, hepatotoxic chemicals (alcohol), toxin in food (especially aflotoxins), peroxides (particularly peroxidized edible oil), pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, and CNS active agents), environment pollutants and xenobiotics (Hikino et al 1988).