where a voucher specimen (No. MP-2: 28/7/2007) was kept for future reference. The seeds were dried at room temperature and mechanically powdered to obtain a coarse powder; defatted with petroleum ether (60-80°C) and Soxhlet extracted with methanol. Solvent removal under reduced pressure was afforded by methanolic extract (yield 9.5% w/w). The dry methanolic extract was stored in cool and dry place which was further used for evaluation of the hepatoprotective activity. Phytochemical ScreeningA preliminary phytochemical screening of methanolic extract of A. subulatum seeds was carried out. [4] Animals Studies were carried out using either sex Wistar albino rats (200-220 g). They were obtained from the animal house, Anand pharmacy college (APC), Anand, India. The animals were grouped and housed in polyacrylic cages (38 × 23 × 10 cm) with not more than six animals per cage and maintained under standard laboratory conditions; temperature (22 ± 2°C), relative humidity (55 ± 5 %) with dark and light cycle (12/12 hours). They were allowed free access of standard pellet diet (Amrut feed, Sangli, India) and water ad libitum. The rats were acclimatized to laboratory condition for 10 days before the commencement of experiment. Animal studies were approved by the Institutional Animal EthicsThe hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Amomum subulatum Roxb (Zingiberaceae) seeds was studied against 20 % ethanol (3.76 g/kg/days, p.o for 18 days) induced liver damage in rats. Ethanol produced significant changes in various liver parameters such as functional (thiopentone-induced sleeping time) and physical (increased liver weight and volume). It also increased the biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamate pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total and direct bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglyceride and decreased total protein along with changes in histological parameters (damage to hepatocytes). Treatment with methanolic extract of A. subulatum (100 and 300 mg/kg/day, p.o. for 18 days) and silymarin significantly prevented the functional, physical, biochemical and histological changes induced by ethanol, indicating the recovery of hepatic cells. These results demonstrate that methanolic extract of A. subulatum seeds possessed the hepatoprotective activity.