EVALUATION OF ACUTE TOXICITY AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF CAPSULES FROM MEDICINAL HERBS ON A MODEL OF CHRONIC LIVER INJURY INDUCED BY ETHANOL

Abstract

The present study attempts to explore the hepatoprotective effects of capsules containing dry extracts of Turmeric, Bitter melon, Phyllanthus urinaria L., Psidium guajava L. leaves, Kaempferia parviflora Wall. Ex Baker, and Curcuma aromatica Salisb. on a Swiss white mouse of chronic liver damage caused by ethanol with increasing concentrations (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%). The results showed that the capsule had a protective effect on the mice’s liver against ethanol-induced damage and did not show acute toxicity on any experimental mice organs.  Specifically, after 2 and 4 weeks of using the capsule at oral doses of 1 capsule/kg and 2 capsules/kg, the increase in AST and ALT activities in mouse plasma was inhibited. The capsule also reduced the MDA content and restored the endogenous GSH content in the mouse liver to near normal levels.