Screening of Leaves and Roots of Eclipta alba for Hepatoprotective Activity

Leaves and roots are used as hepatic tonic rejuvenates hair, cirrhosis, ear aches, hepatitis, headache and enlarged spleen. Studies on the hepatoprotective activity on methanolic extract and sub fractions of leaves and the chloroform extract and sub fractions of roots of Eclipta alba was carried out using carbon tetrachlorideinduced liver damage and Lysosomal enzymes level in wistar albino rats. The methanolic extract of leaves and the chloroform extract of roots of Eclipta alba showed significant activities (P<0.01) and (P<0.05) respectively causing 72.8% & 47.96% reduction of lysosomal enzyme. The triterpenoid Eclabasaponin fraction from methanolic extract of leaves produced significant (P<0.001) (78.78%) and the alkaloidal fraction (P<0.05) (60.65%) reduction of carbon tetra chloride induced increase in lysosomal enzyme in blood. The Coumestan fraction (CF) and Triterpenoidal saponin fraction (RTF) from the chloroform extract of roots produced very significant (P<0.01) (75.6%) and (P<0.05) (52.41%) respectively reduction of carbon tetra chloride induced increase in lysosomal enzyme levels in blood. Key WordsCarbon tetrachloride, Lysosomal enzymes, Silymarin. Eclipta alba.