ABSTRACT
Blood sugar levels of normal rats treated with D-400 showed significant reduction (P < 0.05) as compared to control groups. The fall was seen at one month and remained so uptill 3 months. Hyperglycemic response to adrenaline was significantly lowered (P < 0.05) following D-400 treatment. D-400 potentiated the hypoglycemia following tolbutamide treatment. Blood sugar remained persistently low in tolbutamide plus D-400 treated group after 3 and 4 hours (P < 0.05). In the alloxan-induced diabetic rats, a significant lowering of blood and urinary sugar was noticed on day 20, 30 and 40 following treatment with D-400 (P < 0.05). Liver glycogen depletion was significantly inhibited in the D-400 treated group (P < 0.025). D-400 has significantly potentiated (P < 0.05) the hypoglycemic action of insulin in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
Subject(s)
Blood Glucose/drug effects , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Alloxan/toxicity , Animals , Blood Glucose/analysis , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Body Weight/drug effects , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/physiopathology , Epinephrine/toxicity , Fasting , Female , Glycogen/metabolism , Glycosuria/metabolism , Liver/drug effects , Liver/metabolism , Male , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Tolbutamide/administration & dosage , Tolbutamide/pharmacology , Tolbutamide/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Effect of Septilin, an ayurvedic formulation proven to be effective in the therapy of chronic infections, was investigated on the phagocytic system and humoral response in rats and mice. Septilin exhibited significant protection in E. coli-induced abdominal sepsis in normal mice and in Staphylococcus aureus-induced sepsis in neutropenic mice. It significantly reduced the viable E. coli cells when incubated with neutrophils in rats. Septilin stimulated the phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system in mice. In normal rats, Septilin enhanced anti-SRBC hemagglutination antibody titre by 5.7-fold and showed significant protection in cyclophosphamide-induced humoral suppression.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology , Immunotherapy/methods , Medicine, Ayurvedic , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Animals , Mice , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
The adverse effects of maternal alcohol consumption on the development of the fetus are well known. The adverse effects of ethanol on the liver are now believed to be due to acetaldehyde formed as an intermediate metabolite of ethanol. Liv.52 has been shown to bring about faster elimination of acetaldehyde from the body and thus prevent alcoholic liver damage. Other toxic effects of alcohol may also be due to acetaldehyde and may be prevented by Liv.52. In this study, rats were given 20% (v/v) ethanol in drinking water, during the gestation period, and the effect on maternal body weight and fetal outcome was noted. The protective effect of Liv.52 administration during the gestation period was studied. The results show that ethanol ingestion caused a decrease in gestational weight gain, total fetal weight, and number of live fetuses. There were increases in resorptions. Liv.52 administration reduced the deleterious effects of ethanol. The concentration of acetaldehyde in the amniotic fluid of ethanol-consuming animals was 0.727 microgram/ml. Liv.52 administration lowered it to 0.244 microgram/ml. The protective effect of Liv.52 could be due to the rapid elimination of acetaldehyde.
Subject(s)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders/prevention & control , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Acetaldehyde/metabolism , Amniotic Fluid/drug effects , Amniotic Fluid/metabolism , Animals , Body Weight/drug effects , Drug Combinations , Ethanol/pharmacokinetics , Female , Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders/metabolism , Pregnancy , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Ethanol and acetaldehyde levels in blood and urine have been evaluated in 9 volunteers following administration of Liv.52 and placebo on the evening of the study and on the following morning. On the following morning the volunteers scored their symptoms and completed visual analogue scales. Single dose and multiple dose studies were done. Liv.52 produced a considerable reduction in blood and urine levels of ethanol and acetaldehyde after 12 h. It is possible that Liv.52 prevents the binding of acetaldehyde, bringing about higher initial blood levels followed by rapid elimination. It reduced the hangover symptoms.
Subject(s)
Acetaldehyde/blood , Acetaldehyde/urine , Alcohol Drinking/metabolism , Ethanol/blood , Ethanol/urine , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Adult , Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects , Drug Combinations , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
In 8 social drinkers, the effect of a single dose of Liv.52 or placebo on ethanol absorption has been studied after ingestion of 30 ml whisky in 5 min. The t1/2 absorption with Liv.52 was 3.62 min, significantly less than after placebo, 6.29 min. The peak concentration after Liv.52 (49.9 mg.100 ml-1) was significantly higher than with placebo (40.5 mg.100 ml-1). Whisky 120 ml consumed by regular alcohol users in 1 h, before and following 15 days of Liv.52 treatment produced significantly higher ethanol levels at 2, 3 and 4 h and significantly lower acetaldehyde levels at 3 and 4 h after Liv.52 treatment. Liv.52 enhanced the rate of absorption of ethanol and rapidly reduced acetaldehyde levels, which may explain its hepatoprotective effect on ethanol-induced liver damage.