Further studies on the antihepatotoxic activity of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Linn.

Phyllanthus maderaspatensis (whole plant extracts) was evaluated for its antihepatotoxic and choleretic activities in rats. The plant extracts (200 mg/kg. n-hexane, ethyl alcohol or water) showed a remarkable hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity as judged front the serum marker enzymes. The water and ethyl alcohol extracts showed moderate activity compared to the n-hexane extract, which showed activity at a dose as low as 1.5 mg/kg. The antihepatotoxicity of the hexane extract was found to be better than silymarin, a standard hepatoprotective herbal drug. The effect of n-hexane extract was found to be concentration-dependent. This extract also exhibited choleretic activity in normal rats, and in vitro hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.