The combined antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of Eclipta prostrata was evaluated against carbon tetra chloride (CCl 4) induced hepatic damage in wistar albino rats. Ethanolic extract from the Eclipta prostrata at a dose level of 200mg/kg of body weight was administered orally daily once for 15 days. The substantially elevated serum marker enzymes such as Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Acid phosphatase (ACP) and the antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were found due to CCl 4 treatment. The levels of above mentioned enzymes were brought to near normalcy after administration of plant extract. The biochemical parameters like total protein, total bilirubin were also restored towards normal levels. In addition Eclipta prostrata significantly decrease the liver weight of CCl 4 intoxicated rats. Silymarin at a dose level of 25mg/kg was used as a standard reference drug for comparison.. The results of this study strongly indicate that Eclipta prostrata is having a potent hepatoprotective action against CCl 4 induced hepatic damage in rats.

The present study evaluates the anti-arthritic effect of Spirulina fusiformis on formaldehyde induced Rheumatoid arthritis in mice. Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of formaldehyde (0.1 ml of 2%v/v) into the right hind paw of Swiss albino mice. Spirulina fusiformis (500mg/kg b.wt & 1000mg/kg/b.wt) was orally administrated for 10 days. The anti arthritic effect of Spirulina fusiformis was evaluated by measuring changes in the paw volume, body weight, protein, uric acid, serum and liver lysosomal enzymes such as Acid phosphatase, β β β β β-glucuronidase and β β β β β-galactosidase, protein-bound carbohydrates such as hexose, hexosamine, fucose in control and experimental groups. In formaldehyde induced arthritic animals, the levels of lysosomal enzymes in serum and liver were decreased and the levels of protein-bound carbohydrates and paw volume were increased. However the body weight was found to be reduced when compared to control animals. Oral administration of Spirulina fusiformis (1000mg/kg/b.wt) significantly altered these physical and biochemical changes observed in arthritic animals to near normal conditions. Hence results of this study clearly indicate that Spirulina fusiformis has promising anti-arthritic activity against formaldehyde induced rheumatoid arthritic animals.