An Experimental Study to Evaluate Hepatoprotective Activity of Herbal Formulation in Rats

Objective: To study the hepatoprotective activity of herbal formulation against CCl4 induced hepatoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty four Charles Foster albino rats of either sex, weighing 150-200 g were divided into four groups of 6 animals each. The animals of group I and II were administered distilled water in the dose of 1 mL/kg, orally, daily for 8 days. Group III and IV rats were administered Silymarin (100 mg/kg/day) and herbal formulation (150 mg/kg/day) orally, daily for 7 days respectively. On 7th day, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was administered in the dose of 2mL/kg as 1:1 mixture with liquid paraffin i.p. to induce hepatotoxicity in animals of group II, III and IV along with routine treatment. On 8th day all animals were sacrificed and blood as well as liver was collected for biochemical parameters and histological examination. Results: There was significant increase in serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (80.2 +/- 4.5 vs 26 +/- 3.1), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (68.7 +/- 5.6 vs 24.5 +/- 2.6), alkaline phosphatase (53.1 +/- 5.6 vs 9.4 +/- 2.8) and total bilirubin (2.64 +/- 0.09 vs 1.03 +/- 0.05) in CCl4 treated group (P<0.01) as compared to control group. These parameters were not statistically different in Silymarin and herbal formulation treated groups (SGOT: 47.3 +/- 4.2 vs 48.6 +/- 3.2, SGPT: 44.2 +/- 4.3 vs 46.5 +/- 3.5, S. ALP: 23.1 +/- 7.4 vs 27.9 +/- 2.5 and total bilirubin: 1.68 +/- 0.02 vs 1.52 +/- 0.05 in Silymarin and herbal formulation group respectively) as compared to control group. But Silymarin and extract treated groups showed significant decrease in these parameters as compared to CCl4 treated group (P<0.01). Histology of the liver sections confirmed that the extract prevented hepatic damage induced by CCl4. Conclusion: The hydro-alcoholic extract of herbal formulation showed significant hepatoprotective activity against CCl4 induced hepatoxicity in rats.