Hepatoprotective Activity of Bixa orellana Linn Leaf Extracts

The present investigation was aimed at investigating the Hepatoprotective activity of Bixa orellana Linn. (Bixaceae) leaves. The dried leaf powder was subjected to successive Soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and water extracts were investigated for Hepatoprotective activity in Wistar rats using standard methods. In the present study, the animals were pretreated with test extracts before inducing liver damage with CCl4. Seven days after acclimatization the rats were divided into seven groups (I-IX), each group consisting of six animals. All animals were kept on same diet for 7 days. The results showed that the Methanolic extract was found to be more potent as hepatoprotective than the reaming extracts of the Bixa orellana leaves.