Andrographis paniculata (Family: Acanthaceae) and Swertia chirayita (Family: Gentianaceae) are two controversial medicinal plants used as Kiriyattu, having similar therapeutic action and are used as a hepatoprotective and hepatostimulative agent. A. paniculata grows in southern parts of India and S. chirayita in the Himalayan region. The present work concerns on the ability of the extracts of these plants to offer protection against acute hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol (150 mg/kg) in Swiss albino mice. Oral administration of A. paniculata or S. chirayita extract (100-200mg/kg) offered a significant dose dependent protection against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity as assessed in terms of biochemical and histopathological parameters. The paracetamol induced elevated levels of serum marker enzymes such as serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin in peripheral blood serum and distorted hepatic tissue architecture along with increased levels of lipid peroxides (LPO) and reduction of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver tissue. Administration of the plant extracts after paracetamol insult restored the levels of these parameters to control (untreated) levels. Thus the present study revealed that the extracts of A. paniculata or S. chirayita offered protection against hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol.
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