Hepatoprotective potential of tubers of habenaria intermedia d.don. against carbontetrachloride induced hepatic damage in rats

Habenaria intermedia D.Don. (Orchidaceae) is commonly known as Vrddhi in Indian system of medicine. The purpose of the study was to assess the effects ethyl acetate and ethynolic extracts of tubers of Habenaria intermedia against Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 0.7 ml/kg.p.o. in liquid paraffin 1:1, i.p.) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The hepatoprotecitve effect of extracts was evaluated by the assay of liver function and biochemical parameters such as SGOT, SGPT, SALP, serum bilirubin and cholesterol. Ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg p.o) exhibited significant (p<0.001), hepatoprotecitve activity by restoration of increased levels of serum bilrubin, cholesterol and enzymes in CCl4 induced hepatotoxic animals compared to the normal and the standard drug Silymarin treated groups. Histopathlogical studies of liver sections of animals treated with extract showed regeneration of hepatocyts, absence of necrosis and fatty infiltration, which further give evidence for the hepatoprotecitve activity.