Hepatoprotective efficacy of the extracts of heliconia rostrata ruiz and pav

Abstract

Human beings have been using medicinal plants for the treatment of different newlineailments and for primary health care since the beginning of civilization. The World newlineHealth Organization have been stressing on the use of these plants as cheaper alternative newlineto conventional synthetic drugs. The medicine from plant sources has also been found to newlineproduce fewer side effects in comparison to their synthetic counterparts. newlineHeliconia rostrata Ruiz and Pav. (family Heliconiaceae) is a musoid-type newlineperennial plant with simple and oblong leaves, underground rhizomes and; beautiful and newlineattractive hanging inflorescence, bracts of which resemble lobster claw. This is probably newlinethe reason why the plant is popularly known as hanging lobster claw. Extensive literature newlinesurvey on this plant helped gathering information about its traditional/ethnobotanical newlineuse. Some literatures were also found in the public forum that performed some efficacy newlineand toxicity studies on different parts of this plant. Among the ethnobotanical newlineinformation obtained the plant parts have been reported to be used for the treatment of newlineheadache, sprain, intestinal pain, jaundice, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and newlinediabetes- induced edema. Experimentally, the plant has been shown to have antiophidian newlineefficacy, analgesic property (whole plant) and anti-proliferative property. In spite of newlinethese proven efficacies and traditional information of the use of the plant for treatment of newlinedifferent ailments, H. rostrata is still recognised as ornamental plant. newlineLiver diseases have found its place among the major causes of fatalities around newlinethe world and records demonstrate that there has been steep increase in the fatalities due newlineto liver diseases since 1990 to 2017. The drug-induced hepatotoxicity also has been newlinereported to be the major cause of iatrogenic diseases. Form the countries with highest newlinepopulation to the countries with largest democracy and economy; none of the countries newlinehave escaped the wrath of liver diseases. In this scenario, hepatoprotective agents can be newlinehelpfu