Experimental evaluation of the safety and hepato-protective activity of Raktaphaladi Vati against ethanol induced hepatotoxicity in Wister rats: an in vivo study

Shubham Ramnarayan Dhoot; N. S. Gangasagre

doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20263711

Authors

Shubham Ramnarayan Dhoot Department of Agadtantra Evum Vidhividyak, Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Dharashiv, Maharashtra, India
N. S. Gangasagre Department of Agadtantra Evum Vidhividyak, Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Dharashiv, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20263711

Keywords:

Raktaphaladi Vati, Hepatoprotection, Ethanol, Hepatotoxicity, Ayurveda, Oxidative stress, Liver enzymes

Abstract

Background: Ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity is characterized by oxidative stress, inflammation, hepatocellular injury, and impairment of hepatic function. Raktaphaladi Vati is a classical Ayurvedic formulation traditionally indicated in disorders associated with Yakrit Dushti. However, its hepatoprotective potential against ethanol-induced hepatic injury has not been adequately evaluated experimentally. Objectives were to evaluate the safety and hepatoprotective activity of Raktaphaladi Vati against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats and to compare its efficacy with the standard hepatoprotective drug, Silymarin.

Methods: An experimental study was conducted on healthy Wistar albino rats weighing 150-250 g. Acute oral toxicity was evaluated according to OECD guideline 423 at doses of 300 and 2000 mg/kg body weight. Thirty rats were randomly allocated into five groups (n=6): normal control, ethanol-induced disease control, standard control receiving Silymarin (25 mg/kg), curative Raktaphaladi Vati (87.3 mg/kg), and preventive Raktaphaladi Vati (87.3 mg/kg). Hepatotoxicity was induced by ethanol administration for 28 days. Serum SGOT, SGPT, ALP, bilirubin, total protein and albumin, along with organ weights and hepatic histopathology, were evaluated. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test.

Results: Raktaphaladi Vati was safe up to 2000 mg/kg, with no mortality or observable signs of toxicity. Ethanol administration resulted in marked elevation of SGOT, SGPT and ALP, increased liver weight, and histopathological evidence of hepatocellular degeneration and inflammatory infiltration. Raktaphaladi Vati treatment attenuated these alterations, improved hepatic biochemical parameters, normalized liver weight, and preserved hepatic architecture. The preventive regimen demonstrated comparatively greater protection than the curative regimen and showed effects approaching those of Silymarin.

Conclusions: Raktaphaladi Vati demonstrated a favorable safety profile and significant hepatoprotective activity against ethanol-induced hepatic injury in Wistar albino rats. Its protective effect may be associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and Rasayana properties. The greater efficacy of preventive administration suggests its potential role in preventing ethanol-induced hepatocellular injury.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Murthy KRS, translator. Sushruta Samhita. Vol. 2. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia. 2010;419.

Murthy KRS, translator. Ashtanga Hridaya. 5th ed. Vol. 3. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Krishnadas Academy. 2009:329.

Joglekar VP. Textbook of Agadtantra. 1st ed. Rashtriya Shikshan Mandal. 2008;17-19.

Rehm J, Samokhvalov AV, Shield KD. Global burden of alcoholic liver diseases. J Hepatol. 2013;59(1):160-8.

Sembulingam K, Sembulingam P. Essentials of Medical Physiology, 6th ed. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. 2013:255.

Singhal SK. Toxicology at a Glance. 8th ed. The National Book Depot. 2012;94.

Lieber CS. Biochemical mechanisms of ethanol-induced hepatic injury. Alcohol Suppl. 1991;1:283-90.

Harsh Mohan. Textbook of Pathology. 6th ed. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. 2013.617.

Pawle TS, Baghel PK, Ojha A, Tripathi RN, Rout OP. A clinical study on the efficacy of Rohitakadya Churna and Guduchyadi Kwatha in the management of Yakrit-Vikar w.s.r. to hepatomegaly. World J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2017;6(9):2021-33.

Nanji AA, Jokelainen K, Tipoe GL, Rahemtulla A, Thomas P, Dannenberg AJ. Curcumin prevents alcohol-induced liver disease in rats by inhibiting the expression of NF-κB-dependent genes. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2003;284(2):G321-7.

Shah VN, Shah MB, Bhatt PA. In vivo and in vitro antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of classical Ayurvedic formulation Punarnavashtak Kwath against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. Pharmacogn J. 2010;2(16):43-52.

Abraham G. A review on hepato-protective herbs used in Ayurveda. Glob J Res Med Plants Indig Med. 2014;3(7):303-11.

Singh M, Hussain T, Firdous H, Shaikh S, Rizvi SMD, Moin A, et al. Preclinical hepatoprotective effect of herbalism against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity: a review. Curr Drug Metab. 2018;19(12):1002-11.

Goyal R, Ravishankar B, Shukla VJ, Singh M. Hepatoprotective activity of Rohitaka Ghrita against paracetamol-induced liver injury in rat. Pharmacologia. 2012;3(7):227-32.

Balakrishna V, Lakshmi T. Hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Terminalia chebula fruit against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2017;10(11):55-8.

Chavan TC, Ghadge AA, Kuvalekar AA. Effect of Satwa from three Tinospora species on lipid metabolism and inflammatory markers in acetaminophen and alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Int J Pharm Sci Res. 2020;11(8):3876-90.

Rejitha S, Prathibha P, Indira M. Amelioration of alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity by the administration of ethanolic extract of Sida cordifolia Linn. Br J Nutr. 2012;108(7):1256-63.

Jain PK, Kharya M, Gajbhiye A. Pharmacological evaluation of mangiferin herbosomes for antioxidant and hepatoprotection potential against ethanol-induced hepatic damage. Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2013;39(11):1840-50.

Jain M, Kapadia R, Jadeja RN, Thounaojam MC, Devkar RV, Mishra SH. Hepatoprotective potential of Tecomella undulata stem bark is partially due to the presence of betulinic acid. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;143(1):194-200.

Singh RK, Mehta S, Jaiswal D, Rai PK, Watal G. Antidiabetic effect of Ficus bengalensis aerial roots in experimental animals. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009;123(1):110-14.

Mandal SC, Maity TK, Das J, Pal M, Saha BP. Hepatoprotective activity of Ficus racemosa leaf extract on liver damage caused by carbon tetrachloride in rats. Phytother Res. 1999;13(5):430-2.

Chandrasekar SB, Bhanumathy M, Pawar AT, Somasundaram T. Phytopharmacology of Ficus religiosa. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010;4(8):195-9.

Biswas S, Dhumal R, Selkar N, Bhagat S, Chawda M, Thakur K, et al. Physicochemical characterization of Suvarna Bhasma, its toxicity profiling in rat and behavioural assessment in zebrafish model. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020;249:112388.