Chemistry and hepatoprotective activity of an active fraction from Barleria prionitis Linn. in experimental animals.

Iridoid enriched fraction IF from the ethanol-water extract of aerial parts (leaves and stems) of Barleria prionitis Linn. was evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in various acute and chronic animal test models of hepatotoxicity. It afforded significant hepatoprotection against carbon tetrachloride, galactosamine and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity. Silymarin, was used as reference hepatoprotective. In the safety evaluation study the oral LD50 was found to be more than 3000 mg/kg, with no signs of abnormalities or any mortality observed for 15 days period under observation after single dose of drug administration whereas intraperitoneal LD50 was found to be 2530 mg/kg+/-87 mg/kg. SE (n=10) in mice. The studies revealed significant and concentration dependent hepatoprotective potential of 'IF' as it reversed the majority of the altered hepatic parameters in experimental liver damage in rodents.