Pharmacological and Pathological Studies on Taiwan Folk Medicine (IX): The Hepatoprotective Effect of the Methanolic Extract from Echinops Grijisii

Abstract

In order to isolate the main hepatoprotective component of Echinops grijisii, the crude drug was extracted with methanol and subjected to continuous extractions using n-hexane chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The hepatoprotective studies of each fraction from the methanol extract of E. grijisii was conducted in Wistar albino rats with CC14-induced liver damage. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated in terms of the modification of serum transaminase values such as SGOT and SGPT, and histopathological changes of liver biopsy. The results indicated that the main hepatoprotective component was concentrated in n-butanol and aqueous fractions.