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Background:The roots of Carissa carandas Linn. (Apocynaceae) and Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Chiov. (Asclepiadaceae) were used by the tribes of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, for the treatment of various liver disorders. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the ethyl acetate fraction of the ethanol extract from roots of C. carandas (CCF) and P. daemia (PDF) were studied against carbon tetrachloride-, paracetamol-, and ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Results: Signifi cant hepatoprotective effects were obtained against liver damage induced by all the three toxins, as evident from changed biochemical parameters like serum transaminases (SGOT and SGPT), alkaline phosphate (ALP), total bilirubin, total protein, and total cholesterol. Parallel to these changes, the ethyl acetate fraction prevented toxin-induced oxidative stress by signifi cantly maintaining the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and a normal architecture of the liver, compared to toxin controls. Conclusion: The results indicate that CCF and PDF could be useful in preventing chemically induced acute liver injury.

Two new taxa of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae), viz., I. sasidharanii sp. nov. and I. sasidharanii var. hirsuta var. nov. are described and illustrated from the southern Western Ghats of India. Detailed notes on description, ecology, distribution, morphological variations and IUCN status are provided along with illustrations.

Impatiens glabrata, a new species, is described from Muthikulam forest of Palakkad district, Kerala, India. A description and observations on pollen morphology, ecology, distribution and its allied characters between I. henslowiana and I. fruticosa are provided, along with colour photographs.