40PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF C. PENTANDRA ON THIOACETAMIDEINDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATSMethanolic extract of Ceiba Pentandra was evaluated for hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities in rats. The plant extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) showed a remarkable hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity against Thioacetamide induced hepatotoxicity as judged from the serum marker enzymes and antioxidant levels in liver tissues. Thioacetamide induced a significant rise in aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, gamma glutamate transpeptidase (GGTP), lipid peroxidase (LPO) with a reduction of total protein, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), vitamin C and E. Treatment of rats with different doses of plant extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.001) altered serum marker enzymes and antioxidant levels to near normal against acetaminophen treated rats. Also the extract was effectively altered the drug metabolizing enzymes such as Cytochrome P450, NADPH Cytochrome C reductase and glutathione S transferase. The activity of the extract at dose of 400 mg/kg was comparable to the standard drug, silymarin (50 mg/kg, p.o.). Histopathological changes of liver sample were compared with respective control. Results indicate that the Ceiba Pentandra have significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties.bhushan_gandhare@rediffmail.comResearch312012Ceiba Pentandra,Hepatoprotective,Antioxidant enzymes, Metabolizing enzymesBhushan Gandhare,S. Kavimani,B. RajkapoorDept of Pharmacoloy, Karapagam University, Coimbatore-641 021, Dept. of Pharmacology, Mother Theresa Institute of Health Sciences Puducherry-605 006,Dept. of Pharmacology, Dayananda Sagar College of Pharmacy, Bangalore-560 078