Antihepatoprotective Potential of Livina, a Polyherbal Preparation on Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity: a Comparison with Silymarin

Comparative protective activity of polyherbal formulation Livina against a well-established drug Silymarin was assessed against Paracetamol induced hepatic injury in swiss albino mice. To clarify its effect on liver functions, eight-week-old male mice were injected with Paracetamol at the single dose of 200 mg kg-1 body weight intraperitonially once daily 28 days. The hepatoprotective effect of polyherbal formulation (Livina) was comparatively evaluated with Silmarin (25 mg kg-1) by measuring levels of serum markers such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspertate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), -glutamyle transpeptidase (GGT), lipid peroxidase (MDA), and total and direct bilirubin levels in mice serum along with the histopathological studies to support the above mentioned parameters. The study found that the supplementation of Livina significantly (P<0.05, P<0.001) reduced the damaging effects on liver by Paracetamol. Histopathological changes (congestion of central vein, centrilobular necrosis and sinusoidal congestion) induced by Paracetamol were also reduced to a moderate extent in Livina treated mice. In both the cases the effectiveness of Livina were found to be almost parallel with Silymarin, indicating the herbal formulation to be almost as effective as the standard drug.