HEPATO-PROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF STEM BARK EXTRACTS OF FICUS RELIGIOSA LINN IN RATS

Hepatoprotective activity of stem bark extracts of Ficus religiosa Linn. (Moraceae) investigated against Paracetamol (2g/kg) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Stem bark powder of Ficus religiosa was successively extracted with different solvent by soxhlet apparatus. The extracts of F. religiosa stem bark were administered in a dose of 200 mg/kg orally. Silymarin (100mg/kg) was used as standard drug. The hepatoprotective effect of these extracts was evaluated by the assessment of biochemical parameter such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, Total bilirubin, and histopathological studies of the liver. The preliminary Phytochemical screening of F. religiosa revealed the presence of Tritearpenoids, Flavonoids, Saponins, Steroids, Tannins and Phenolic compounds, Carbohydrate, Protein. The treatment with extract of F. religiosa showed significant reduction of Paracetamol induced elevated serum enzyme levels. The present study shows that extract of Ficus religiosa L. has significant hepatoprotective activity and methanolic extract was found to exhibit greater hepatoprotective activity than the other extract.