Abstract
The methanolic extract of whole plant of Berberis pachycantha Koehne (Berberidaceae) has afforded a new isoquinoline alkaloid, which was characterized as 8,9-dimethoxy-5,6,12a,6a-tetrahydro-2H-1,3-dioxoleno[4,5-g] isoquinolino [3,2-a] isoquinoline on the basis of spectral and chemical studies and has been designated as pachycanthine 1. The pachycanthine 1 exhibited a significant antihepatotoxic activity by 25-53% (dose: 50 mg/kg) with respect to standard silybon-70 (36-60%) against CCl(4) induced toxicity in Albino Wistar rats.