Hepatoprotective effect of Himoliv, a polyherbal formulation in rats.

The effect of Himoliv (HV) was evaluated in carbon tetrachloride or paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Liver necrosis was produced by administering single dose of either carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 1 ml/kg, 50% v/v with olive oil, s.c.) or paracetamol (PC, 1 g/kg, p.o.). The liver damage was evidenced by elevated levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). HV pretreatment (0.5 and 1.0 ml/kg, p.o.) significantly (P < 0.001) reduced CCl4 or PC-induced elevations of the levels of SGOT, SGPT, ALP and TBARS, while the reduced concentration of SOD due to CCl4 or PC was reversed. Silymarin (25 mg/ kg, p.o.), a known hepatoprotective drug showed similar results.