Protective effect of kadukkai maathirai (Terminalia chebula-based polyherbal siddha formulation) in ethanol-induced liver disease in rats

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Kadukkai maathirai (KM) against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Methods: Four groups (n=6) of adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were used. Ethanol was administered in the dose of 45% v/v 15 mL/kg/body weight twice a day for 8 weeks in the study. The four groups were treated orally for 8 weeks with 2% gum acacia (control), ethanol (toxic control), ethanol + KM 72 mg/kg, and ethanol + KM 400 mg/kg, respectively. At the end of 8 weeks, blood was collected by a retro-orbital puncture for the estimation of liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]). The liver was dissected out for histopathology. Using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey’s test, the data were analyzed. Results: There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the serum AST and ALT level in rats treated with KM 72 mg/kg as compared to toxic control. Liver parenchyma showed near normal architecture in KM 72 mg/kg-treated group as compared to ethanol-treated group which showed extensive ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes and microvesicular steatosis. Conclusion: KM, in the dose of 72 mg/kg, which is the therapeutic dosage described in Siddha additional literature, exerted hepatoprotective effect against ethanol-induced liver damage in rats.