Hepatoprotective activity of extracts from Pergularia daemia Forsk. against carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity in rats

Pergularia daemia Forsk. (Asclepiadaceae) is a perennial herb grows along the road sides in India. Studies on the hepatoprotective effect of acetone and ethanolic sub fractions of ethanolic fraction obtained from total alcoholic extract was carried out using carbon tetrachloride- induced liver damage in wistar albino rats. Acetone sub fraction showed significant (P<0.05) protective effect by lowering serum levels of various biochemical parameters in the selected model. These biochemical observations were supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections. Silymarin was used as positive control. The presence of flavonoid compounds in the ethanolic sub fraction of alcohol extract of Pergularia daemia may be responsible for significant hepatoprotective properties. The results justify use of Pergularia daemia as a hepatoprotective agent.