BIOCHEMICAL-STUDIES ON THE ANTIHEPATOTOXIC POTENTIAL OF PICRORHIZA-KURROA ON MITOCHONDRIAL DAMAGE IN D-GALACTOSAMINE-INDUCED LIVER INTOXICATION IN RATS

We have studied the effect of prior oral administration of an alcoholi c extract of Picrorhiza kurroa, a traditional medicinal plant, on D-ga lactosamine-induced hepatitis in rats with respect to mitochondrial fu nction. Mitochondrial protein and the activities of TCA cycle enzymes, respiratory marker enzymes, lipid peroxide and antiperoxidative enzym es were determined in liver. Prior administration of Picrorhiza kurroa extract significantly prevented the D-galactosamine-induced alteratio ns in the level of protein and activities of TCA cycle enzymes and res piratory marker enzymes in liver mitochondria. The extract also exerte d an antioxidant effect against D-galactosamine hepatitis by blocking the induction of lipid peroxidation and by increasing the activities o f antiperoxidative enzymes to near normal. This preliminary study sugg ests that Picrorhiza kurroa is hepatoprotective in rats. (C) 1998 Lipp incott-Raven Publishers.