Preventive effects of Picrorhiza kurroa on D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis in rats

The present study examined the preventive effects of Picrorhiza kurroa, an ayurvedic medicinal plant, on D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis in rats, an animal model of both drug-induced hepatitis and viral hepatitis of human b eings. Levels of protein, glycoprotein, cholesterol, phospholipids, and lip id peroxide products in plasma and erythrocyte membrane and the activities of erythrocyte membrane antiperoxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase and c atalase were determined. Prior oral treatment with an alcoholic extract of Picrorhiza kurroa significantly prevented the D-galactosamine-induced decre ases in the levels of protein and glycoprotein and in the activities of sup eroxide dismutase and catalase. A tendency to prevent the D-galactosamine-i nduced alterations in the levels of cholesterol, phospholipids and lipid pe roxides was also observed. The antihepatotoxic potential of Picrorhiza kurr oa might be ascribable to the antioxidant and hypolipidemic nature of Picro rhiza kurroa.