title: Safety and efficacy of Qurse-e-istisqua in chronic hepatitis C infection: an exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Qurse-e-istisqua (Q-e-I), an Unani medicine commonly prescribed to treat liver disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study efficacy and safety of Q-e-I in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized double-blind exploratory study, 60 naive patients of HCV infection were assigned to receive either interferonα2a (IFNα2a) (3 mIU, subcutaneous, thrice weekly), ribavirin (RBV) (1000 mg, orally, twice daily in divided doses) and placebo (n = 30) or IFNα2a, RBV and Q-e-I (5 g, orally, thrice daily in divided doses) (n = 30). HCV RNA levels, serum hyaluronic acid (SHA), ultrasound image scoring for fibrosis, liver and renal function test, prothrombin time, were done at the baseline and thereafter periodically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early virologic response (EVR), end of treatment response (ETR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) were 90%, 96.6% and 90% in the control group and 86.6%, 90.0% and 83.3% in the treatment group. SHA level was lower in the treatment group at the end of the treatment as compared to the control group. Mean end of follow-up ultrasound image scoring for fibrosis in the control and the treatment group was 1.37 ± 0.07 and 1.22 ± 0.06 respectively. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were significantly lower in the treatment group than the control group at 1-month. Commonly observed adverse drug reactions included fever, hair fall, fatigue, anemia, and diarrhea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Q-e-I was well tolerated and showed anti-fibrotic activity. EVR, ETR and SVR suggested that Q-e-I do not have any anti-HCV activity. Early recovery in AST and inhibition of progress of fibrosis in Q-e-I group was probably due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of its ingredients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Harmeet Singh
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Rehan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, HIMSR, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Deepti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Madhur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Neeta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wardhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manak
authors.affiliation: Central Council for Research in Unani Medicines, AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Janak Puri, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Department Pharmacology Ilmul Advia, faculty of Unani Medicine, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mohd
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aslam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007194:India; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C000603660:qurse-e-istisqua; D012254:Ribavirin; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases
keywords: Fibrosis; Qurse-e-istisqua; hepatitis C; interferon; ribavirin
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