Isolation, Characterization of Active Constituent and Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of Inula Racemosa Hook. F. Roots

Ayurvedic literature claims that Inula racemosa Hook. f. roots are beneficial for the liver. The study’s aim was to test the hepatoprotective effect of Inula racemosa Hook. f. roots ethanolic extract (IRE) against paracetamol (PCM) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Silymarin (100 mg/kg/day) was used for 7 days, then PCM was orally administered (3 g/kg b.wt.) on the eighth day. 24 hours after the last PCM dosing, blood was withdrawn from the retro-orbital plexus and later on the rats were sacrificed. Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Albumin (ALB), Total Protein (TP), liver weight and relative liver weight were determined. Histopathology of the liver was performed. In the study, IRE was found to have comparable protective effects against PCM-induced hepatotoxicity as Silymarin. Gallic acid was isolated for the first time from Inula racemosa Hook. f. roots. IRE exhibited a hepatoprotective effect because gallic acid was present in it.