717HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC ROOT EXTRACT OF BETA VULGARIS AGAINST PARACETAMOL INDUCED HEPATIC DAMAGE IN RATSThe Beta vulgaris a well-known root, belonging to the family Amaranthaceae, was investigated for hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity against paracetamol induced liver damage in rats. Male Wistar albino rats overdosed with paracetamol showed liver damage and oxidative stress as indicated by increased serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilurubin and lipid peroxidase. Simultaneously, there were decreased activities of total protein, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione capacity compared with the control group. Co -administration of silymarin and ethanolic root extract of Beta vulgaris (250mg/kg) with paracetamol reversed the elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilurubin, lipid peroxidase and restored the decreased levels of total protein, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione. The effect produced by the root extract of Beta vulgaris was comparable with that of silymarin. From the result it was concluded that, The ethanolic root extract of Beta vulgaris exhibited hepatoprotective and the probable mechanism of action may be due to its antioxidant propertysengt@rediffmail.comResearch712016Beta vulgaris,Hepatoprotective, Paracetamol,AntioxidantLekshmanan V, Srinivasan D,Sengottuvelu STutor, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences, Madurantagam, Kancheepuram District, Tamilnadu, India,Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences, Madurantagam, Kancheepuram District, Tamilnadu, India,Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Nandha College of Pharmacy, Erode, Tamilnadu, India