EFFECT OF PICROLIV ON ANTIOXIDANT-SYSTEM IN LIVER OF RATS, AFTER PARTIAL-HEPATECTOMY

Levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate tran saminase and alkaline phosphatase in the serum of rats increased maxim ally at 12 h and bilirubin at 24 h, while total proteins decreased max imally at 48h after partial hepatectomy. The levels of total lipids, r educed glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase i n liver increased maximally at 12 h and catalase at 24 h, but the acti vities of peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and superoxide dismuta se decreased maximally at 12 h. After the period of maximal initial in crease/decrease, the changes in these parameters in liver and serum st arted recovering towards their prehepatectomy levels. When a similar s tudy was performed in rats fed 12 mg/kg body wt picroliv (an iridoid g lycoside fraction of Picrorhiza kurroa) once daily for 7 days, the rat e of recovery of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruva te transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in serum and total lipids, re duced glutathione, peroxidase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase in Liver was faster.