Hepatoprotective and Anti Pyretic Activities of Methanolic Extract of Butea monosperma Lam Stem Bark in Wister Rats

The methanolic extract of stem bark of Butea monosperma Lam (MEBM) was studied for the hepatoprotective and antipyretic activities. Carbontetrachloride (1ml/kg, i.p) induced hepatotoxicity and Brewer's yeast (10ml/kg, s.c) induced pyrexia rat models were used. The 10 days treatment of MEBM (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, p.o) showed significant (P<0.01) hepatoprotective effect by dose dependent manner. The MEBM significantly (P<0.01) lowered the elevated levels of serum biochemical parameters such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total bilirubin and also significantly (P<0.01) increased total protein levels when compared to toxic control rats. The MEBM at both dose levels (200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg, p.o) produced significant (P<0.01) antipyretic activity throughout the observation period up to 6 h. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of biologically active constituents such as flavonoids, glycosides and sterols. The flavonoids in the MEBM may be responsible for the significant hepatoprotective and antipyretic activities.