The protective effect of HD-03 in CCl4-induced hepatic encephalopathy in rats

The liver is a major parenchymal organ involved in many functional activiti es in the body. Hepatic encephalopathy is a syndrome characterized by incre ased blood ammonia level and is one of the major complications of cirrhosis . In the present study the protective effect of HD-03, a poly-herbal formul ation, was evaluated against CCl4-induced hepatic encephalopathy in rats. H epatic encephalopathy was induced in Wistar rats by administration Of CCl4 at a dose of 1 mL/kg orally in liquid paraffin (1:1) twice a week for 90 da ys. The liver enzymes (SGPT and SGOT) and blood ammonia levels were signifi cantly (p < 0.001) higher in the CCl4-intoxicated group compared with the u ntreated control group. Administration of HD-03 at a dose of 750 mg/kg oral ly as an aqueous suspension significantly prevented the elevation of SGPT, SGOT and blood ammonia levels. Histomorphometric evaluation of liver and br ain showed a protective effect of the HD-03 treatment, thus correlating wit h the changes in biochemical profiles. The protective effect of HD-03 again st CCl4-induced encephalopathy may be due to the improved hepatocellular fu nction, which in turn helps in regulating the metabolism of ammonia. Howeve r, further studies are required to measure the activity of enzymes involved in the urea cycle and brain aromatic amino acids in order to elucidate the exact mechanism of action of HD-03. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.