IN-VIVO PROTECTIVE ROLE OF KOFLET (AN AYURVEDIC PREPARATION) AGAINST CELLULAR TOXICITY CAUSED BY CCL4 AND FLY-ASH

Swiss albino rats were treated in groups with CCl4, and flyash to indu ce cellular toxicity in the lungs and trachea. Animal groups received treatment of Koflet (K) with CCl4 (7 days) and with flyash (30 days); their general health and biochemical parameters were studied and used as an indication of cellular injuries. A significant loss was observed in body weight and food consumption in animals given only CCl4 or fly ash, while simultaneous treatment with K resulted in a non significant alteration from normal control groups. Enzyme (alkaline phosphatase, Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT)) activities were estimated in tissue homog enate preparation of lung, trachea and serum, which showed no signific ant change except for GPT activity as compared to control animals whic h received CCl4 or flyash with K. Similarly lung, trachea and serum co ntents of carbohydrate, protein, sialic acid, serum protein, serum cho lesterol were estimated and it was found that alteration caused by CCl 4, or flyash becomes almost non-significant compared to that of the co ntrol after the treatment of K, except for carbohydrate and serum chol esterol values. The animal group which was only treated with K did not show any significant alteration in their biochemical markers or injur ies, except for cholesterol. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.