HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES ON MICROCEPHALA LAMELLATA, PERIPLOCA APHYLLA AND ALHAJI MOURARROUM

Balochistan is native home of many medicinal plants. Peoples living in rural areas mostly rely on these medicinal plants to cure diseases. Microcephala lamellata, Periploca aphylla and Alhaji mourarroum are important medicinal plants used for cure of various diseases. Current study was carried to explore hepatoprotective and toxicological profile of these plants. Hepatoprotective activity was carried out by CCl4 induced liver damage in rabbits. Chronic toxicity test was carried out on rabbits. Microcephala lamellata, Periploca aphylla and Alhaji mourarroum produced significant hepatoprotective activity as there was marked decrease in serum hepatic parameters. Methanolic extracts of these three plants did not produced any significant toxic effects. Key Words: hepatoprotective, Microcephala lamellata, Periploca aphylla, Alhaji mourarroum