Evaluation of the liver protective potential Calendula Officinalis Flower extract on Paracetamol induce damage

The hepatprotective activity of methanolic extract of calendula officinalis flower was investigated against paracetamol induced hepatic damage. Paracetamol at a dose of 640 mg/kg body weight produced liver damage in rats, as manifested by the rise in serum levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate trasaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to 246 + 6.46, 247+4.61 and 393.0+7.54 IU/L (n=10) respectively, compared to respective control values of 54.5+1.45, 34+1.55 and 207.2+4.33 IU/L. Pre treatment of animals with plant extract (500 mg/kg body weight) significantly lowered  (p < 0.05) the respective serum GOT, GPT and ALP to 76.7+1.74, 68.3+3.9 and 208.8+4.48 IU/L. These results indicate that the crude extract of calendula officinalis flowers exibits hepatoprotective action.