EFFECT OF A HERBAL PREPARATION IN EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED HEPATOPATHY IN GOATS

Hepatopathy was induced in 18 goats by single intravenous (i/v) inject ion of paracetamol @ 400 mg/kg body weight. The therapeutic efficacy o f a herbal preparation (containing equal parts of Berberis aristata, S olanum nigrum and Achyranthes aspera) was studied. It was given orally @ 1 g/kg body weight for 10 days in 12 goats. The remaining 6 goats s erved as untreated control. Haematological, blood biochemical and dye ((Bromosulphalein) retention studies were carried out at different int ervals. Histopathological studies of liver were done at the end of 20 days of experiment. There was an increase in total leukocyte count (TL C), serum cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total lipids, trigly cerides, bilirubin, globulin, bromosulphalein (BSP) percent retention, activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparate aminotransfera se (AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and a decrease in haemog lobin (Hb), packed-cell volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC), t otal protein and albumin:globulin (A:G) ratio. Histopathologically liv er showed characteristic lesions of hepatotoxicity. The drug preparati on was effective in curing these cases as evidenced from the reversal of all the pathological changes towards normalcy following treatment.