Hepatoprotective action of abhrak bhasma, an ayurvedic drug in albino rats against hepatitis induced by CCl4.

Abhrak bhasma is a commonly used ayurvedic drug against many diseases including hepatitis. It is tested in albino rats using a model of hepatitis induced by a single dose of CCl4 (3 ml/kg body wt). Different doses of abhrak bhasma (10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg body wt) were tested to decide the dose related hepatoprotective efficacy. The centrolobular necrosis induced by single dose of CCl4 was reduced significantly by abhrak bhasma (10 mg) and liver histology was also protected by 20 mg dose. Liver acid lipase activity was lowered, while alkaline and lipoprotein lipase activities were elevated due to treatment of single dose of CCl4. Abhrak bhasma counteracted the action of CCl4 on liver lipolytic enzymes. CCl4 did not alter the kidney histologically. Activities of three lipases of rat kidney (acid, alkaline and lipoprotein lipases) were reduced by CCl4 treatment and were reversed by administration of abhrak bhasma. Acid lipase activity of rat adipose tissue was reduced by CCl4 treatment. On the contrary alkaline, lipoprotein and hormone sensitive lipases were enhanced after 24 hr of administration of CCl4. Acid lipase activity was raised by administration of different doses of abhrak bhasma concurrent with CCl4. Abhrak bhasma treatment along with CCl4 enhanced alkaline lipase activity at 10 and 20 mg dose and later it was reduced at 30 and 40 mg doses and came to normal levels. Lipoprotein and hormone sensitive lipases were reduced by the counteraction of increasing doses of abhrak bhasma.

Antianaemic properties of ayurvedic drugs, raktavardhak, punarnavasav and navayas louh in albino rats during phenylhydrazine induced haemolytic anaemia.

Single injection of phenylhydrazine[PH] reduced the number of RBC and haemoglobin content; decreased myeloid; erythroid cell ratio in bone marrow and increased Cathepsin D activity in spleen of rats. Ayurvedic drugs raktavardhak, punarnavasav and navayas louh recovered the number of RBC and haemoglobin content and raised myeloid: erythroid cell ratio and normalised cathepsin D activities by counteracting the action phenyl hydrazine. The results confirm the claims of ayurveda that these drugs possess the potency to cure anaemia through protection of RBCs from haemolysis and simultaneously lowering cathepsin D activities from the spleen.

Curative effects of mandur bhasma on liver and kidney of albino rats after induction of acute hepatitis by CCl(4).

Hepatocurative effects of mandur bhasma were studied in albino rats after induction of acute hepatitis by CCl4 liquid paraffin and CCl4 + liquid param. Recovery of the liver was studied with reference to histological architecture and differential counts of degenerated, recovering and recovered hepatocytes. Alterations in the kidney were also studied histologically. Hepatotoxins were given (s.c.) daily for 11 days. Mandur bhasma was given (po) for 7 days to normal, CCl4, liquid paraffin and CCl4 + liquid paraffin treated rats from day 12 to day 18. There were no spontaneous liver and kidney recoveries within a week after the cessation of the treatments of hepatotoxins. Mandur bhasma treatment showed conspicuous recoveries of liver and kidney within a week and total recoveries were noticed after two weeks. Biochemical alterations in lipid peroxidation, glucose-phosphatase and total proteins were studied during present work. The alterations in the histology and biochemical parameters of liver and kidney show hepatocurative potency of mandur bhasma.

Cholesterol mediated changes in beta-glucuronidase activities of rat theca interstitial cells and granulosa cells.

Effects of steroid hormones on beta-glucuronidase activities of granulosa cells and theca interstitial cells were studied in vitro in the presence and absence of cholesterol in minimum essential medium (MEM with Hank's salts). Conspicuous fall in the enzyme activities of both these cells were noticed during first 10 min of incubation in MEM without cholesterol and remained lower throughout the experiment. Addition of cholesterol to incubation medium maintained beta-glucuronidase activities of both the cells as observed in the cells of immature ovary immediately after isolation. 17 beta-estradiol did not affect beta-glucuronidase activities of these cells, while testosterone and progesterone suppressed the enzyme activities of these cells in the presence of cholesterol.

Effect of hepatoprotective ayurvedic drugs on lysosomal enzymes during hepatic injury induced by single dose of CCl4.

Effects of single doses of kumari asav, kumari kalp, arogyavardhini and tamra bhasma on lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase) of rat liver and kidney were studied during hepatitis induced by single 0.3 ml/kg body wt dose of CCl4. Histologically all the drugs showed significant hepatoprotection. While acid phosphatase activities of liver and kidney were suppressed, activities of beta-glucuronidase were enhanced by these drugs. The results indicate that acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase behave differently, although they are lysosomal in nature.

Effect of hepatoprotective ayurvedic drugs on lipolytic activities during CCl4 induced acute hepatic injury in albino rats.

Daily treatment of CCl4(3 ml/kg body wt) for 7 days induced acute hepatic necrosis in albino rats. Treatment of CCl4 caused significant alterations in the activities of acid lipase, alkaline lipase, lipoprotein lipase of liver, kidney and adipose tissue and hormone sensitive lipase of adipose tissue of albino rat. Administration of hepatoprotective ayurvedic drugs (kumari asav, kumari kalp, arogyavardhini and tamra bhasma) concomitant with CCl4 counteracted the action of CCl4 on lipolytic enzymes exhibiting hepatoprotection. The possible physiological significance of alterations in lipolytic enzymes during hepatic necrosis induced by CCl4 and hepatoprotection by the above ayurvedic drugs is discussed.

Effect of Plumbago zeylanica root powder induced preimplantationary loss and abortion on uterine luminal proteins in albino rats.

P. zeylanica treatment during first 7 days of pregnancy abolished uterine proteins of 13,000, 19,000 and 26,000 and 75,000 Da molecular weights resulting in preimplantationary loss. Proteins having molecular weights 55,000 and 65,000 Da were absent in aborted rats, that were given P. zeylanica root powder since day 6 to day 17 of pregnancy. The results suggest that proteins having molecular weights 13,000, 19,000, 26,000 and 75,000 Da influence the implantation and proteins of 55,000 and 65,000 Da are required for the maintenance of the pregnancy.

Effect of hepatoprotective ayurvedic drugs on lipases following CCl4 induced hepatic injury in rats.

Effects of kumari asav, kumari kalp, arogyavardhini and tamra bhasma used in Ayurved and Siddha medicine for the treatment of liver disorders have been studied on acid, alkaline and lipoprotein lipase activities of liver, adipose tissue and kidney and hormone sensitive lipase activity of adipose tissue following CCl4 induced liver injury in albino rats. The treatments of CCl4 and the above drugs show significant alterations in the lipolytic activities of liver, adipose tissue and kidney. Role of these enzymes during hepatoprotection by above drugs has been discussed.