Abstract

PRECLINICAL INVESTIGATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF SIDDHA FORMULATION “MAAVILINGAPATTAI CHOORANAM” IN CCL4 INDUCED HEPATIC DYSFUNCTION IN RATS

I. Samroothul Parveen*, S. Kayalvizhi, R. Karolin Daisy Rani, M. D. Saravana Devi

ABSTRACT

Liver is the major organ involved in xenobiotic metabolism and its damage could be caused by virus infiltration, drugs and toxic chemicals from infection or ingestion. The liver has an increased chance of being exposed to drugs, chemicals and xenobiotics leading to toxicity. This can have grave consequences on the functional capacity of the hepatocytes. Conventional drugs used in the treatment of liver diseases are often inadequate. It is therefore necessary to search for alternative drugs for the treatment of liver diseases to replace the currently used drugs of doubtful efficacy and safety. In recent era several therapeutic leads has been emerged from the natural and herbal source as an alternative therapy for several life threatening medical condition’s including liver disorders. Siddha system of traditional medicines majorly relies on herbs as a potential and vital ingredient in all the formulations one such novel formulation is Maavilingapattai Chooranam (MPC) which comprise of 16 potential herbal ingredients. The main aim of the present investigation is to screen the hepatoprotective activity of the Siddha drug MPC in CCl4 induced hepatic dysfunction in rats. Results of the study clearly emphasis that there was a significant increase in AST, ALT, ALP and GGT including serum bilirubin level in CCl4 treated rats, whereas treatment with MPC at both the dose level of 100 and 200 mg/kg offers greater hepatoprotective activity by significant reduction in elevated liver enzyme levels. Further these results were well justified by histopathological examination of liver samples collected from control and treatment group rats. Treatment with MPC has shown significant dose dependent efficacy in the experimental rats. From the results of the present investigation it was evident that the siddha formulation MPC offers wide range of hepatoprotective activity against CCl4 induced hepatic dysfunction. The mechanism underlying this activity may be due to strong phytochemical profile of the formulation. Further clinical investigation has to be carried to correlate the present preclinical data to ascertain the efficacy of the formulation before impeding clinical usage.

Keywords: Siddha system, Traditional medicines, Maavilingapattai Chooranam, Hepatoprotective activity, CCl4, AST, ALT, ALP.