Prevention of paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in rats by picroliv,the standardized active fraction from Picrorhiza kurroa

Single oral administration of paracetamol (2 g/kg body wt) to rats caused significant changes in the activities of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, 5′-nucleotidase, succinate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphatase and cytochrome P₄₅₀ and contents of glycogen and cholesterol in liver after 24 and 48 h. Total lipids and lipid peroxides in liver increased both at 24 and 48 h while protein content of liver decreased after 48 h. Levels of transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin in serum also increased. The magnitude of these changes was more after 48 h of paracetamol administration. Picroliv, the iridoid glycoside fraction of Picrorhiza kurroa, when given orally to rats (6 and 12 mg/kg body wt for 7 days) caused significant reversal of the paracetamol-induced biochemical changes. The degree of protection at the two doses of picroliv was almost similar.