Hepatoprotective Potency of Achyranthes aspera: An In-vivo Study

Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae) is known for many medicinal uses such as purgative, diuretic, used in dropsy, piles, boils, skin eruption and in treating snake bite. Seeds of the plant are used by the ethnic group of Western Ghats for treating jaundice. The objective of the present study was to evaluate ethanolic extract from seeds of Achyranthes aspera for its hepatoprotective potential by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage model in rats. Present investigation revealed that the animal group treated with CCl4 recorded significant rise in serum markers reflecting hepatic damage and pretreatment of rats with ethanolic extract of A. aspera (100mg/kg p.o) inhibited the increase in serum levels of total bilirubin, total protein, serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase reflecting the liver protection by crude drug.The data obtained was found comparable with silymarin (100mg/kg p.o).