Evaluation of protective effect of Butea monosperma (lam.) Taub in experimental hepatotoxicity in rats

The liver is the second largest organ in the body, and is often seen as the most important one. Toxins, infectious agents, medications, and serum inflammatory mediators may result in a diverse range of disease processes, leading to loss of normal histological architecture, reduced cell mass, and loss of blood flow. Consequently, functional liver capacity may be lost. Efforts have been made to search for effective hepatoprotective agents. Therefore, the prevention of liver diseases has a great significance both in theory and in practice. Butea monosperma (lam.) Taub-(Fabiaceae) is a medium size deciduous tree, found throughout India and traditionally used for the treatment of hepatopathy, ulcers, tumors, and diabetes. B. monosperma has been scientifically investigated for anthelmintic, anticonvulsive, antidiarrheal, antifertility, antimicrobial and antistress activities. This study was performed to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of ethanolic extract of B. monosperma in carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) intoxicated rats.