Hepatoprotective Effects of Polygonum Bistorta and Its Active Principles on Albino Rats Intoxicated with Carbon Tetrachloride and Paracetamol

Liver disease is still a worldwide health problem. Unfortunately, conventional or synthetic drugs used in the treatment of liver diseases are inadequate and sometimes can have serious side effects. In the absence of a reliable liver protective drug in modern medicine there are a number of medicinal preparations in Ayurveda recommended for the treatment of liver disorders [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80% of the population of developing countries relies on traditional medicines, for their primary health care needs. Also, modern pharmacopoeia still contains at least 25% drugs derived from plants and many others which are synthetic analogues built on prototype compounds isolated from plants [2].