Antihepatotoxic activity of Swertia chirata on paracetamol and galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The extracts of Swertia chirata were evaluated for antihepatotoxic activity using paracetamol and galactosamine models. The methanol extract of the whole plant was found active at a dose of 100 mg/kg i.p. On fractionating this extract into chloroform soluble and butanol soluble fractions, the activity was retained in the chloroform soluble fraction which was most active at a dose level of 25 mg/kg i.p. with overall protection of 81% and 78% against paracetamol and galactosamine, respectively. The butanol soluble fraction, rich in bitter secoiridoids, was devoid of significant activity. The protective effect observed against these two hepatotoxins which are different in their mechanisms of inducing hepatotoxicity, suggests broader and non-specific protection of the liver against these two toxins by non-bitter components of Swertia chirata.