RESUMO
Ethanol extract and its ethanol fraction from aerial parts of P. daemia exhibited significant hepatoprotective effect against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, total protein and albumin in serum indicated hepatoprotective effect of the ethanol extract and its ethanol fraction. Histopathological examination of liver sections confirmed that, pre-treatment with ethanol extract and its ethanol fraction prevented hepatic damage induced by CCl4. The results were comparable with the standard hepatoprotective drug silymarin. The extract and its fraction showed no signs of toxicity up to a dose level of 2000 mg/kg. It is suggested that, the presence of flavonoids in ethanol extract and its ethanol fraction may be responsible for hepatoprotective properties. High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography profile of flavonoids of bio-active extracts was developed using quercetin-3-glucoside as a marker. Results indicate hepatoprotective properties of ethanol extract of P. daemia.