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Objectives: The present study was aimed at assessing the hepatoprotective activity of 1:1:1 petroleum ether, diethyl ether, and methanol (PDM) extract of Scoparia dulcis L. against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice. Materials and Methods: The PDM extract (50, 200, and 800 mg/kg, p.o.) and standard, silymarin (100 mg/kg, p.o) were tested for their antihepatotoxic activity against CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice. The hepatoprotective activity was evaluated by measuring aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total proteins in serum, glycogen, lipid peroxides, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase levels in liver homogenate and by histopathological analysis of the liver tissue. In addition, the extract was also evaluated for its in vitro antioxidant activity using 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay. Results: The extract at the dose of 800 mg/kg, p.o., significantly prevented CCl4-induced changes in the serum and liver biochemistry (P < 0.05) and changes in liver histopathology. The above results are comparable to standard, silymarin (100 mg/kg, p.o.). In the in vitro 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay, the extract showed good free radical scavenging potential (IC 50 38.9 ± 1.0 μg/ml). Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that the PDM extract of Scoparia dulcis L. possesses potential hepatoprotective activity, which may be attributed to its free radical scavenging potential, due to the terpenoid constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the serum glucose and triglyceride lowering activity of some novel glitazones against dexamethasone-induced hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance in rats. Materials and Methods: Serum glucose and triglyceride lowering activity of the test compounds and a standard, rosiglitazone, was tested at a dose of 10 mg/kg p.o. against dexamethasone-induced hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. On day 11 of treatment, blood was collected for the estimation of serum glucose and triglyceride levels. Results: All the 14 compounds and rosiglitazone significantly (P < 0.05) decreased dexamethasone-induced elevation of serum glucose when compared to dexamethasonealone-treated group. Among these compounds, compound 10 showed better antihyperglycemic activity than rosiglitazone. Compounds 7, 8 and 9 have shown significant (P < 0.05) serum triglyceride lowering activity than did rosiglitazone. Out of the 14 compounds tested, only compounds 7, 8 and 9 have shown both serum glucose and triglyceride lowering activity. Conclusion: The present study indicates that some of the newer glitazones show significant glucose and triglyceride lowering activity. In comparison to rosiglitazone, these glitazones show comparable serum glucose lowering and better triglyceride lowering activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]