HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF VASAGUDUCHYADI KWATHA- A COMPOUND HERBAL FROMULATION AGAINST PARACETAMOL INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS.

Paracetamol (PCM) is widely used as analgesic and antipyretic drug, but at high doses it leads to undesirable side effects, such as hepatotoxicity. The present study evaluates the hepatoprotective activity of Vasaguduchyadi Kwatha (an herbal formulation content of 08 drugs) against paracetamol induced toxicity. Honey used as vehicle and Silymarin as a reference standard. Paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated by noting the effect of test formulation on increase in serum SGPT, SGOT, ALP activity and bilirubin level. Paracetamol hepatotoxicity was manifested by an increase lipid peroxidation, depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase activity in liver tissue. Biochemical parameter observations were supplemented by histopathological examinations. Co-administration of Vasaguduchyadi Kwatha (decoction) protects against the paracetamol induced alteration in lipid peroxidation, restored altered serum marker enzymes and antioxidant level towards near normal. Histopathology of liver showed that test formulation attenuated the hepatocelluar necrosis and led to reduction in inflammatory cells infiltration. The results indicate hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Vasaguduchyadi Kwatha (decoction) against paracetamol induced toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]