Acta Pharm. 48 (1998) 77-84
Administration of phenobarbitone (80 mg kg-1, i.p. for three days) caused significant increase in the activities of several hepatic enzymes viz. gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, succinate dehydrogenase, acid ribonuclease, acid phosphatase as well as various microsomal enzymes related to drug metabolism in male rats. In addition, the levels of lipid-peroxides and cholesterol in liver also increased along with the increase in liver mass, liver mass/body mass ratio and microsomal proteins. In contrast, the activities of 5'-nucleotidase and glucose-6-phosphatase as well as the content of DNA, RNA, glycogen and total proteins in liver were decreased following phenobarbitone treatment. In serum, the levels of GOT, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and bilirubin increased along with the decrease in the content of protein and albumin. Most of the phenobarbitone-induced biochemical changes in liver and serum were significantly reduced or prevented in animals pretreated with Picroliv, the standardized iridoid glycoside fraction obtained from roots and rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurroa.
Keywords: Picroliv, Picrorhiza kurroa, phenobarbitone, drug metabolizing enzymes, hepatoprotection, hepatic damage