Hepatoprotective activity of indigtone - A bioactive fraction from Indigofera tinctoria Linn.

A bioactive fraction, indigtone (FA), obtained by fractionation of a petrol eum ether extract of the aerial parts of Indigofera tinctoria, showed signi ficant dose related hepatoprotective activity against CCl4 induced liver in jury in rats and mice. Hexobarbitone induced 'sleeptime', zoxazolamine indu ced 'paralysis time', levels of transaminases, bilirubin and total protein in serum were employed as indices of liver injury, Pre and post treatment w ith FA significantly reversed the majority of the parameters altered by the hepatotoxin, This indicated the preventive and restorative effect of FA in the process of CCl4 induced liver damage, The fraction possessed a high th erapeutic ratio, as no mortality was observed up to a dose of 2 g/kg p.o. i n mice. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.