Antihepatotoxic activity of monomethyl fumarate isolated from Fumaria indica.

Monomethyl fumarate, isolated for the first time from the methanolic extract of the whole plant of Fumaria indica, was characterised and screened for its antihepatotoxic activity in albino rats. The compound showed significant (P < 0.01) antihepatotoxic activity against thioacetamide in vitro, and against hepatotoxicities induced by carbon tetrachloride, paracetamol and rifampicin in vivo to an extent almost similar to that of silymarin, a known antihepatotoxic agent.