21-09-2012, 02:23 PM
HERBALDRUG AND PROTEIN THERAPY FOR TREATMENT OF LIVER DISORDERS
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INTRODUCTION
Liver is considered to be one of the most vitalorgans that functions as a centre of metabolism of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins lipids and excretion of waste metabolites Additionally, it is also handling the metabolism and excretion of drugs and other xenobiotics from the body thereby providing protection from the body thereby providing protection against foreign substances by detoxifying and eliminating them. The bile secreted by the liver has, among other things, plays an important role in digestion.
Hepatic disease (Liver disease) is a term that affects the cells, tissues, structures, or functions of the liver. Liver has a wide range of functions,including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemical necessary for digestion and synthesis as well as breakdown of small and complex molecules, many of which are necessary for normal vital functions. Herbal drugs are more widely used than allopathic drugs as hepatoprotective because of them are inexpensive, better cultural acceptability, bettercompatibility, with the human body and minimal side effects. These herbal drugs have shown the ability to maintain the normal functional statues of the liver with or without fewer side effects. The liver plays an astonishing array of vital functions in the maintenance, performance and regulating homeostasis of the body. It is involved with almost all the biochemical pathways to growth, fight against disease, nutrient supply,energy provision and reproduction. Therefore, maintenance of a healthy liver is essential for the overall well being of an individual. Liver cell injury caused by various toxicants such as certain chemotherapeutic agents, carbontetrachloride, thioacetamide etc., chronic alcohol consumption and microbes is well-studied. Since the Indian traditional Medicine like Ayurveda,Siddha and Unani are predominantly based onthe use of plant materials. Herbal drugs have gained importance and popularity in recent
years because of their safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness. Several Indian medicinal plantshave been extensively used in the Indian traditional system of medicine for the management of liver disorder. The use of naturalremedies for the treatment of liver diseases hasa long history and medicinal plants and theirderivatives are still used all over the world in one form or the other for this purpose. Scientific evaluation of plants has often shown that active principles in these are responsible for therapeutic success. A large number of medicinal plants have been tested and found to contain active principles with curative properties against a variety of diseases.
SIDE EFFECTS OF ALLOPATHIC TREATMENT
Modern medical treatment consists of interferon alfa-2b, recombinant alone or in combination with Rebavirin. Side effects from these medications include muscle aches, yeast infections, anemia, seizures, brain fog, autoimmune reactions, hypersensitivity reactions (allergic reactions, asthma) osteoporosis, deterioration of cardiac function, coronary disease, diabetes mellitus, and severe psychiatric symptoms such as depression and suicidal behavior. Rebavirin is so dangerous to a developing fetus that women of childbearing age must show proof of 2 forms of acceptable birth control before they are given a prescription.
FOENICULUM VULGARE
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare family Umbelliferae) is an annual, biennial or perennial
aromatic herb, depending on the variety, the leaves, stalks and seeds (fruits) of the plant are edible. Foeniculum vulgare is an aromatic herb whose fruits are oblong, ellipsoid or cylindrical, straight or slightly curved and greenish or yellowish brown in colour. Volatile components of fennel seed extracts by chromatographic analysis include trans-anethole, fenchone, methylchavicol, limonene, α-pinene, camphene ,β-pinene, β-myrcene, α-phellandrene, 3-carene, camphor, and cis anethole. Hepatoprotective activity of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil was studied using a carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis model in rats. The hepatotoxicity produced by chronic carbon tetrachloride administration was found to be inhibited by Foeniculum vulgare essential oil with evidence of decreased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin.
ECLIPTA ALBA
Eclipta alba (Bhringaraja), belonging to family Composite is a perennial shrub which grows widely in moist tropical countries. It is used as alterative, anthelmintic, expectorant, antipyretic, antiasthmatic, tonic, deobstruent in hepatic and spleen enlargement and significant anti-inflammatory activity. It has been reported to be useful in liver ailments & has been shown to possess hepatoprotective activity against carbon- tetrachloride induced liver cell damage in animals. The effect of Eclipta alba extract was
studied on paracetamol induced hepatic damage in Mice. Treatment with ethanol extract of E.alba was found to protect the mice from hepatotoxic action of paracetamol as evidenced by significant reduction in the elevated serum transaminase levels.
TRIGONELLA FOENUMGRAECUM
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) is an annual herb that belongs to the family Leguminosae. The seeds of fenugreek are commonly used as a spice in food preparations due to the strong flavour and aroma. The seeds are reported to have restorative and nutritive properties. Fenugreek seeds have antioxidant activity and have been shown to produce beneficial effects such as neutralization of free radicals and enhancement of antioxidant apparatus. The protective effect of a polyphenolic extract of fenugreek seeds against ethanol-induced toxicity was investigated in human Chang liver cells. Ethanolic treatment suppressed the growth of Change liver cells and induced cytotoxicity, oxygen radical formation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Incubation of FPEt along with EtOH significantly increased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, caused a reduction in lactate dehydrogenase leakage and normalized GSH/GSSG ratio. The findings suggest that the polyphenolic compounds of fenugreek seeds on the other
gastric and lung cancer cell lines included in the screen. The investigators suggested that garcinone E may be potentially useful for the treatment of certain types of cancer
AEGLE MARMELOs
Aegle marmelos leaves (Bael, family of Rutaceae) which is also called as Bilva in ancient Sanskrit, was used as herbal drug in the Indian System of medicine. The hepatoprotective effect of Aegle marmelos in alcohol-induced liver injury was evaluated. The leves of Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) was found to be increased in ethanol intoxicated rats and glutathione,super oxide dismutase(SOD) ,catalase(CAT) levels were decreased.Treatment with aegle marmelos significantly decreas TBARS level and improves glutathione and SOD levels and inverse the effect of CAT.Thus Bael showed potent hepatoprotective activity.