Protective and ameliorative effects of Picrorhiza kurroa rhizome extract against drug-induced liver injury in rats model

Manish Kumar
Varsha Raj
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Sokindra Kumar
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Arun Kumar Mishra
Department of Zoology, Narain College, Shikohabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Kharvel Subharti College of Pharmacy, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
Kharvel Subharti College of Pharmacy, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
Faculty of Pharmacy, IFTM University, Moradabad, Lodhipur Rajput, Uttar Pradesh, India
Received: 5 October 2024 / Revised: 8 November 2024 / Accepted: 19 November 2024 / Published: 30 March 2025

Abstract

Introduction and aim. The study evaluated the hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of Picrorhiza kurroa rhizome ex tracts in rats, assessing their ability to scavenge free radicals and protect against liver damage.

Material and methods. Liver damage was observed in Wistar rats after seven days of oral paracetamol (PCM) and azithromycin (AZM) combination therapy, with serum biomarkers evaluated for effect.

Results. During the DPPH experiment, the antioxidant DPPH assay on rats’ livers revealed that the ethanol extract of P. kurroa demonstrated free radical scavenging activity. The crude ethanol extract of P. kurroa showed a 15.62% yield and 48.62 IC50 values in an antioxidant DPPH experiment. Long-term treatment reduces liver toxicity by balancing biochemical factors. When compared to the group that received only PCM and AZM, the rats treated with P. kurroa crude extract showed a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate pyruvic transaminase, and bilirubin (p<0.001) while showing an increase in protein and albumin at all doses (p<0.05). In addition, it was reproved by in vivo antioxidant parameters such as superoxide dismutase, lactate dehydrogenase, catalase, and glutathione, which were also examined to verify its strong hepatoprotective effect.

Conclusion. The study found that the ethanolic extract of P. kurroa rhizome has the potential to protect against liver damage caused by PCM and AZM due to its complementary anti-oxidant properties.

 

Cite 

Kumar M, Raj V, Kumar S, Mishra AK. Protective and ameliorative effects of Picrorhiza kurroa rhizome extract against drug-induced liver injury in rats model. Eur J Clin Exp Med. 2025;23(1):180–189. doi: 10.15584/ejcem.2025.1.6.

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