ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of ethanolic extract of Cnidoscolus chayamansa leaves in experimentally drug induced hepatitis in rats. Rats were divided into five different groups each having six. Group 1 served as a control, Group 2 received Rifampicin (RIF) (100 mg/kg, i.p.) and coadministered with Isoniazid (INH) (100 mg/kg, i.p.), in sterile water, group 4 and 5 served as extract treatment groups and received 200 & 400 mg/kg, orally, ethanolic extract of Cnidoscolus chayamansa and group 3 served as standard group and received Silymarin 2.5 mg/kg orally. All the treatment protocols followed 21 days and after which rats were sacrificed, blood and liver were taken for biochemical and histological studies, respectively. The Rifampicin (RIF) and Isoniazid INH treated group rats (G2) showed variable increase in serum AST, ALT, ALP, total protein and total bilirubin levels. Administration of ethanolic extracts of Cnidoscolus chayamansa significantly prevented Rifampicin-Isoniazidinduced elevation in the levels of serum diagnostic liver marker enzymes aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level in experimental groups of rats. Moreover, total protein and total albumin levels were significantly increased in treatment groups. The effect of extract was compared with a standard drug, Silymarin. The changes in biochemical parameters were supported by histological profile. It is concluded that the ethanolic extract of Cnidoscolus chayamansa protects against rifampicin and Isoniazid-induced oxidative liver injury in rats
