In vivo and In vitro Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective effects of Classical ayurvedic formulation Punarnavashtak kwath against Ethanol induced hepatotoxicity

Punarnavashtak kwath (PN) a classical Ayurvedic formulation reported in “Bhaishyajyaratnavali” consisting of eight medicinal plants was evaluated for its in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effect. In vitro antioxidant activity of PN kwath was investigated by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity, superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay. In vitro antioxidant activity was found to be dose dependent. Hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant effect was evaluated by ethanol (3.7 g/kg, p.o for 45 days in all group except control) induced hepatic damage in rats. Pretreatment with PN kwath 100 mg/kg p.o for 45 days) significantly prevented physical (increased liver wt), biochemical (serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin and total protein level), histological (damage to hepatocytes) and functional changes (thiopentone induced sleeping time) induced by ethanol in liver. Further PN kwath showed antioxidant activity by increasing activity of GSH, SOD and CAT and by decreasing the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS). The results were compared to that of reference standard silymarin (50 mg/kg p.o for 45 days). The findings suggest that PN kwath protects the liver cell from ethanol induced liver damages due to its antioxidative effect on hepatocytes.