Basic Research
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2007; 13(23): 3199-3205
Published online Jun 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i23.3199
Effects of four Indian medicinal herbs on Isoniazid-, Rifampicin- and Pyrazinamide-induced hepatic injury and immunosuppression in guinea pigs
Meghna R Adhvaryu, Narsimha Reddy, Minoo H Parabia
Meghna R Adhvaryu, Narsimha Reddy, Minoo H Parabia, Bapalal Vaidya Botanical Research Centre, Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat 395007, India
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Mukul Trust Bardoli, India
Correspondence to: Meghna R Adhvaryu, Bapalal Vaidya Botanical Research Centre, Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, 110, Nehru Nagar Society, Ichchhanath Road, Surat 395007, India. adhvaryumeghna@hotmail.com
Telephone: +91-261-2227141-46
Received: February 9, 2007
Revised: March 1, 2007
Accepted: March 8, 2007
Published online: June 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate and compare the hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects of Curcuma longa (CL), Ocimum sanctum (OS), Tinospora cordifolia (TC) and Zizyphus mauritiana (ZM) on liver injury and immunosuppression induced by Isoniazid (INH), Rifampicin (RIF) and Pyrazinamide (PZA).

METHODS: Duncan Hartley guinea pigs, weighing 700-1050 g, were treated orally with 50 mg/kg of INH, 100 mg/kg of RIF and 300 mg/Kg of PZA for 21-d. 200 mg/kg (bw) of each herb crude extract was administered to the herb control group and 2-h previous to INH + RIF + PZA (AKT) doses to the Herb + AKT groups. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspertate aminotransferase (AST) bilirubin and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) were assessed on d 0 and 21 in all the groups. Phagocytic % (P%), Phagocytic Index (PI) and Chemotactic Index (CI) were also measured as immunologic parameters. Histological analysis was carried out to assess injury to the liver.

RESULTS: The AKT treated control group showed hepatotoxicity as judged by elevated serum AST 5-fold, AST/ALT ratio 4-fold, ALP 2-fold and hepatological changes, such as focal necrosis, portal triaditis and steatosis. Immune function was suppressed as judged by decreased P% (51.67 ± 1.68 vs 40.61 ± 1.28, P < 0.01), PI (2.0725 ± 0.05 vs 0.61 ± 0.05, P < 0.001) and CI (1.8525 ± 0.04 vs 0.695 ± 0.07, P < 0.001). All four herb treated groups showed normal liver histology, enzyme levels and increased P%, while PI and CI were enhanced in the TC and ZM treated groups, respectively. CL + AKT, TC + AKT and ZM + AKT showed nearly normal histology with minimal inflammation and microvesicular steatosis, while OS + AKT showed partial protection. Hepatotoxicity was prevented by restricting the rise of AST by 2-fold in CL + AKT and TC + AKT groups and by 3-fold in OS + AKT and ZM + AKT groups, AST/ALT by 2-fold and ALP to normal levels in all four groups. All four herb + AKT groups showed normal to enhanced neutrophil function.

CONCLUSION: All four herbs showed hepatoprotective potential and prevented immunosuppression. CL and TC showed the highest hepatoprotective activity, while TC and ZM showed strong immunostimulatory activity.

Keywords: Isoniazid; Rifampicin; Pyrazinamide; Hepato-toxicity; Curcuma longa; Ocimum sanctum; Tinospora cordifolia; Zizyphus mauritiana; Hepatoprotective; Immun-omodulatory