title: The protective effect of HD-03 in CCl4-induced hepatic encephalopathy in rats.
abstract: The liver is a major parenchymal organ involved in many functional activities in the body. Hepatic encephalopathy is a syndrome characterized by increased blood ammonia level and is one of the major complications of cirrhosis. In the present study the protective effect of HD-03, a poly-herbal formulation, was evaluated against CCl4-induced hepatic encephalopathy in rats. Hepatic encephalopathy was induced in Wistar rats by administration of CCl4 at a dose of 1 mL/kg orally in liquid paraffin (1:1) twice a week for 90 days. The liver enzymes (SGPT and SGOT) and blood ammonia levels were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in the CCl4-intoxicated group compared with the untreated control group. Administration of HD-03 at a dose of 750 mg/kg orally as an aqueous suspension significantly prevented the elevation of SGPT, SGOT and blood ammonia levels. Histomorphometric evaluation of liver and brain showed a protective effect of the HD-03 treatment, thus correlating with the changes in biochemical profiles. The protective effect of HD-03 against CCl4-induced encephalopathy may be due to the improved hepatocellular function, which in turn helps in regulating the metabolism of ammonia. However, further studies are required to measure the activity of enzymes involved in the urea cycle and brain aromatic amino acids in order to elucidate the exact mechanism of action of HD-03.
authors.affiliation: R & D Centre, The Himalaya Drug Co., Makali, Bangalore - 562 123, India. skmitra@bgl.vsnl.net.in
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Venkataranganna
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gopumadhavan
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Anturlikar
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Seshadri
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Venkatesha Udupa
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000150:complications; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: C119007:HD 03 polyherbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D000641:Ammonia; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase