ANTIOXIDANTPROPERTIES AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATAON PCM INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS.

Methanolic extract ofAndrographispaniculata was evaluated for hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities in albino rats. The plant extract (250 and 500 mg/kg, bw.) exhibited a remarkable hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity againstparacetamol induced hepatotoxicity as judged from the serum marker enzymes and antioxidantlevels in liver tissues. Paracetamol induced a significant rise in aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lipid peroxidase(LPO) and bilirubinwith a reduction of protein, superoxide dismutase (SOD). Treatment of rats with different doses of plant extract(250 and 500 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.001) alteredserum marker enzymes and antioxidant levels to near normal againstparacetamol induce albino rats. The activity of the extract at dose of 250 mg/kg was comparable to more effective than dose of 500, mg/kgbw.). Histopathological changes of liver sample were compared with respective control. Results indicate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of Andrographispaniculataagainstparacetamol -induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats.