Hepato-protective activity of three different extracts of Butea monosperma in CCl4 and Isoniazid induced toxicity in wistar rats

Objective: In this study the comparative hepato-protective efficacy of aqueous, ethanolic or benzene-acetone extracts of Butea monosperma (AEBM, EESC and BAEBM, respectively) were evaluated in carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) and isoniazid (INH) induced toxicity. Material & Method: For this, two parallel sets of experiments were performed. Hepatotoxicity was induced by either single dose of CCl4 or regular doses of INH (100 mg/kg b.w., i.p.). In both experiments standard drug (silymarin, 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and test extracts (500 mg/kg for each extract) were given for ten days. Serum liver function enzymes were estimated spectrophotometrically. Results: Both CCl4 and INH treated animals showed significant increased values of serum alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and TBil (P<0.001 for all). However, these were found to be restored in one or more test extracts. The decreased values of these parameters were seemed to be less or more equivalent to standard drug. Conclusion: Present findings suggest that the BM extracts can ameliorate hepatic injury. However, different extracts showed differential protective activities against parameter used, in both experiments. Possibly, different extracts contain different