protection of the liver. Silymarin is a group of flavonoids such as silibinin, silidianin

and silicristin which helps to repair the liver cells that are damaged by alcohol or

toxic compounds and also helps to keep new liver cells from being damaged by

toxins. Silymarin shows its hepatoprotective effect through various mechanisms

such as antioxidant, enhanced protein synthesis, toxin blockade and antifibrotic

activity (Ball and Kowdley 2005). A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of

silymarin (SLM) on the hypertension state and the liver function changes induced by

acetaminophen (APAP) in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Treatment of

animals with silymarin at a dose of 200 mg/kg resulted in the restoration of liver

function markers and oxidative stress and also restored the normal architecture of the

liver in histopathological analysis (Freitag et al. 2015).

29.2.6.21 Solanum nigrum

Solanum nigrum is commonly known as black nightshade and belongs to Solanaceae

family. The plant extract (SNE) was evaluated against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced

liver fibrosis in mice at a dose of 200 mg and 1 g/kg orally. SNE treatment decreased

the hepatic hydroxyproline and L-smooth muscle actin protein levels and also

inhibited the collagen (L1) (I), transforming growth factor-M1 (TGF-M1) and

mRNA levels in the liver. The histopathological examination also revealed a reduc-

tion in fibrosis due to TAA toxicity. The protective effect of SNE may be attributed

to the reduction of TGF-B1 secretion (Hsieh et al. 2008).

29.2.6.22 Swertia chirayita

Swertia chirayita is an entire herb of family Gentianaceae and is found at an altitude

of 1200–3000 m in the temperate Himalayas from Kashmir to Bhutan and also in the

Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. It is commonly known as chirata, and it contains ophelic

acid, chiratin, amarogentin, gentiopicrin and swerchirin. According to Ayurveda

amarogentin is the bitterest compound and is used as a bitter tonic and stomachic. It

is useful in the treatment of liver and eye disorders (Joshi and Dhawan 2005). The

hepatoprotective activity of ethanol extract S. chirayita (SCE) was evaluated against

paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. SCE

treatment resulted in the attenuation of abnormal serum marker enzymes and reduc-

tion of oxidative stress showing their protection in hepatotoxicity (Nagalekshmi

et al. 2011).

29.2.6.23 Terminalia arjuna

Terminalia arjuna is commonly known as arjuna, and it belongs to family

Combretaceae. It consists of dried stem bark and is mainly grown in all parts of

India and is also planted for shade and as an ornamental plant. The main constituents

of the plant are arjunic acid, β-sitosterol and ellagic acid. The bark is used as

cardioprotective agent and anti-hypertensive and is also used in ischaemic heart

disease. It is used as a general tonic in case of liver cirrhosis (Girish et al. 2009). The

ethanolic extract of T. arjuna bark was evaluated in paracetamol-induced liver

damage in rats at a dose of 200 mg/kg for 7 days. The results demonstrated that

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