Hepatocurative effect of picroliv and silymarin against aflatoxin B-1 induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Single doses of aflatoxin B-1 (2 mg/kg, i.p.) caused significant increases in the activities of tau -glutamyl transpeptidase, 5'-nucleotidase, acid ph osphatase and acid ribonuclease, and decreases in the activities of succina te dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphatase in liver, after 8 weeks. The lev el of lipid peroxides, DNA, RNA, and cholesterol increased while glycogen d ecreased. It also increased the serum level of transaminases, sorbitol dehy drogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase , alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin. Oral administration of picroliv (25 mg/kg/day for 15 days), a standardised iridoid glycoside fraction of Picror hiza kurroa, 6 weeks after aflatoxin B-1 toxication, significantly prevente d the biochemical changes induced in liver and serum of aflatoxin B-1 treat ed rats. The hepatocurative effect of picroliv and silymarin, a plant based standard hepatoprotective are comparable.