Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Effect of a Polyherbal Formulation against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Background: Millions of people suffer and die from liver diseases every year in worldwide. Viral hepatitis is a very common problem in Bangladesh however management is problematic and expensive in conventional medicine. So Ayurvedic medicine is way to solve the problem. Methods: This study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Rohitakarista, a polyherbal formulation against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male albino rats (Wistar strain) were divided into 4 groups namely groups I, II, III and IV. Group I served as normal control and received neither formulation nor carbon tetrachloride. Group II received CCl4 in dose of 1ml per kg body weight intraperitoneally. Group III and IV received CCl4 1ml per kg body weight intraperitoneally plus Silymarin, in dose 50 mg/kg orally and Rohitakarista 1ml per kg body weight of rat respectively. After 14 days, blood was obtained for the determination of serum bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. The histological study was also carried out. Result: The result showed that polyherbal formulation exhibited a significant hepatoprotective effect when compared with standard Silymarin. Conclusion: Therefore this study suggests that polyherbal formulation Rohitakarista may have hepatoprotective activity.