HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF APIUM-GRAVEOLENS AND HYGROPHILA-AURICULATA AGAINST PARACETAMOL AND THIOACETAMIDE INTOXICATION IN RATS

Seeds of Apium graveolens L. (Apiaceae) and Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum.) Heine (Syn. Astercantha auriculata Nees, Acanthaceae) are used in Indian systems of medicine for the treatment of liver ailments. Th e antihepatotoxic effect of methanolic extracts of the seeds of these two plants was studied on rat liver damage induced by a single dose of paracetamol (3 g/kg p.o.) or thioacetamide (100 mg/kg, s.c.) by monit oring several liver function tests, viz. serum transaminases (SGOT and SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydr ogenase and bilirubin in serum. Furthermore, hepatic tissues were proc essed for assay of triglycerides and histopathological alterations sim ultaneously. A significant hepatoprotective activity of the methanolic extract of the seeds of both the plants was reported.