The hepatoprotective effect of the ethanol/water (1:1) extract of Ecli
pta alba (Ea) has been studied at subcellular levels in rats against C
Cl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Ea significantly counteracted CCl4-induced
inhibition of the hepatic microsomal drug metabolising enzyme amidopy
rine N-demethylase and membrane bound glucose 6-phosphatase, but faile
d to reverse the very high degree of inhibition of another drug metabo
lising enzyme aniline hydroxylase. The loss of hepatic lysosomal acid
phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase by CCl4 was significantly restore
d by Ea. Its effect on mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase and adeno
sine 5'-triphosphatase was not significant. The study shows that hepat
oprotective activity of Ea is by regulating the levels of hepatic micr
osomal drug metabolising enzymes.