J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Mar; 79(3): 313-6.

Hepatoprotective activity of two plants belonging to the Apiaceae and the Euphorbiaceae family.

Ahmed B, Alam T, Varshney M, Khan SA.

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Antihepatotoxic Research Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110 062, India. baharchem@yahoo.com

The different extracts of Apium graveolens Linn. (Apiaceae) and Croton oblongifolius Roxb. (Euphorbiaceae) were tested for their hepatoprotective activity against CCl(4) induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. The degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters like serum transaminases (SGOT and SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, total protein and albumin. The methanolic extracts showed the most significant hepatoprotective activity comparable with standard drug silymarin. Other extracts namely petroleum ether and acetone also exhibited a potent activity.