Alleviation of favipiravir-induced hepatotoxicity using hepatoprotective herbal extracts in wistar rats.

Teratogenicity and hyperuricaemia are the main side effects of favipiravir, an antiviral drug recently found its use to treat mild to moderate coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. This study investigated the beneficial effect of herbal extracts like Picrorrhiza kurroa (PK) and Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) and their active chemical constituents (baicalin and baicalein) on favipiravir-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The formulation combinations included favipiravir, favipiravir + PK extract, favipiravir + pure baicalin, favipiravir + pure baicalein, and favipiravir + SB extract designated as F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 respectively that were administered to rats orally for 21 days. Favipiravir caused increased levels of SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total bilirubin, and uric acid and decreased liver weight which was alleviated when alloherbal formulation of favipiravir and baicalein combination and favipiravir and SB extract was used. This paper highlights an attractive proposition to ameliorate favipiravir-induced hepatotoxicity using hepatoprotective agents.