DR. AMBERKAR MOHANBABU VITTALRAO
MANIPAL UNIVERSITY (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MAHE
Title: Hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of Curcuma longa against Anti - tubercular drugs (ATT) induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats
Biography
Biography: DR. AMBERKAR MOHANBABU VITTALRAO
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Curcuma longa (Cl) against ATT
induced hepatic damage in rats.
Materials and methods: The rhizomes of the plant were shade dried, powdered and extracted with water. Total 5 groups were used for the study wherein, Gr. I rats were treated with normal saline as a control (vehicle), Gr. II and III were given with hepatotoxic ATT drugs, isoniazid (INH) 31.5 mg/kg + rifampicin (RIF) 54 mg/kg + pyrazinamide (PZA) 189 mg/kg and silymarin
50mg/kg as standard hepatoprotective drug respectively. Gr. IV and V rats dosed with 100 and
200 mg/kg of Cl extract respectively. The plant Cl extract, ATT drugs and silymarin were prepared as suspensions with 2% gum acacia. Calculated daily dosage of (Cl extract +ATT drugs) were split and administered twice for 90 days. The Aqueous extracts of Cl and silymarin were administered orally every morning along with ATT drugs for 90 days. On 90th day, biochemical analysis was done by measuring serum liver enzymes, albumin and total proteins levels. The hepato-protective activities of Cl extract were further determined by the histopathological examination.
Results: A. biochemical analysis: ATT treated rats showed significant increase in AST (aspartate aminotransferases), ALT (alkaline liver transferase), ALP (alkaline liver phosphatases), and GGT (γ-glutamyl transferase) in the serum Vs. control (P<0.05). Treatment of silymarin and Cl (100 and 200 mg/kg) extract showed hepatoprotective activity against the hepatic damage induced by ATT. This was evident from significant reduction in serum liver enzymes levels ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and also there was significant increase in serum albumin and total proteins as compared to the ATT treated groups (P<0.05). B. Histopathology: ATT treated rats histopathological slides revealed mild-moderate fibrosis, low grade inflammation, hepatocellular necrosis with sinusoidal dilatations suggestive of congestion and significant hepato-protective changes were found when Cl extract was treated with ATT drugs.
Conclusions: The hepato-protective action combined with antioxidant activity has a synergistic effect to prevent the process of initiation and progress of hepatocellular damage. Thence, we conclude that aqueous extract of Cl is a promising hepato-protective agent could be clinically useful when added with ATT drugs.