434A SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATION TO REVEAL THE PRELIMINARY PHARMACOGNOSTIC, PHYSICOCHEMICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL, TOXICITY AND HEPATOPROTECTIVITY OF ARDISIA PANICULATA ROOTThe present study has been designed to reveal the preliminary pharmacognostic, physicochemical, phytochemical, toxicity and hepatoprotectivity of Ardisia paniculata root. Ardisia paniculata root was evaluated for the preliminary pharmacognostic, physicochemical and phytochemical as per standard procedure. Ardisia paniculata root was evaluated for preliminary toxicity and hepatoprotectivity using MTT assay on BRL3A cell line. Fresh roots of Ardisia paniculata were subjected to successive extraction using petroleum ether (12.36%), chloroform (20.48%), ethyl acetate (15.54%) and methanol (41.62%). In physiochemical analysis, moisture content, total ash value, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash and extractive values were determined. Petroleum ether extract showed the presence of glycosides, phytosterols and gums. Chloroform extract showed the presence of phytosterols, glycosides and flavonoids. Ethyl acetate extract showed the presence of glycosides, alkaloids and flavonoids. Methanol extract showed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins alkaloids and flavonoids compounds. HPLC analysis of powdered Ardisia paniculata root showed the presence of various phytochemicals. However, gallic acid and rutin were the major phytochemicals. The CTC50 of Ardisia paniculata root was greater than 1000 µg/ml. Hence, the powdered roots of Ardisia paniculata haven’t shown any significant toxicity towards BRL3A cell line. Ardisia paniculata root has not offered any protection for BRL3A cell line against paracetamol at the dose of 500 µg/ml and 1000 µg/ml. The study concludes that the Ardisia paniculata roots were safe but do not possess hepatoprotectivity in BRL3A cell line. However, this pilot study data is not conclusive and require further validation using molecular level studies and clinical trialssyeddawood973@hotmail.comResearch532014Ardisia paniculata,Flavonoids,Hepatoprotective Activity,Hepatoprotectivity,MTT Assay,Paracetamol ToxicitySyed Dawood Noor,Kathiresan Krishnasamy,Ramy S. Behbehani Department of Pharmacy, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India, Department of Pharmacy, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India,Pharmaceutical & Herbal Drug Registration and Control Admin, Drug and Food Control Board, Ministry of Health, Kuwait