title: Ameliorative effects of Tricholepis glaberrima in experimentally induced hepatic damage in rats: modulation of cytokines functions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tricholepis glaberrima belonging to family Asteraceae is popularly known as "Brahmadandi" in Indian system of medicine and is claimed to be effective in the treatment of various ailments such as neurological disorders, hepatic disorders, sexual dysfunction, skin disease etc. The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible role of Tricholepis glaberrima in rifampicin and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin/lipopolysaccharides (BCG/LPS) induced hepatotoxicity in rats and its possible mechanism of actions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by administration of rifampicin for 30 days and in another experiment BCG on day 1 and LPS on day 11. In both the experiments, hepatotoxicity was assessed by alteration of serum marker enzymes (AST, ALT, and LDH), total proteins, MDA and NO formation, cytokines mainly IL-6 and TNF-α and histoarchitecture alterations. The IL-6 and TNF-α level in liver homogenates were determined by ELISA technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of both rifampicin and BCG-LPS elicited hepatic damage reflected in significantly (p<0.01) increased serum marker enzymes AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, LDH and decreased total proteins, increased MDA and NO formation in liver homogenate. Furthermore, IL-6 and TNF-α increased significantly in both the experimental conditions. Pretreatment with METg and silymarin attenuated significantly (p<0.01) marker enzymes, TP, MDA and NO formation as well as IL-6 and TNF-α production in liver homogenates. Prophylactic treatment with METg exhibits significant improvement in liver damage as compared to therapeutic treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hepatoprotective activity of METg may be correlated with the amelioration of oxidative stress due to immunological insult, by improving antioxidant defense ability of hepatocytes and also by reducing the cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and NO) production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, STES, Sinhgad Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lonavala, Pune 410401, India.
authors.forename: Shilpa S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gound
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, STES, Sinhgad Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lonavala, Pune 410401, India. Electronic address: thakare.vishnu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vishnu N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Thakare
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, STES, Sinhgad Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lonavala, Pune 410401, India.
authors.forename: Sharjil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, STES, Sinhgad Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lonavala, Pune 410401, India.
authors.forename: Raju R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wadekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, STES, Sinhgad Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lonavala, Pune 410401, India. Electronic address: srnaik5@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Suresh R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Naik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Bacillus Calmette–Guerin/lipopolysaccharides; Hepatotoxicity; Interleukin-6; Nitiric oxide; Tricholepis glaberrima; Tumor necrosis factor-α