Hepatoprotective activity of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle Ex. Benth extract against alcohol cytotoxicity in mouse liver slice culture

Abstract

Kutki or Picrorhiza kurroa is a herbal medicinal plant belonging to Scrophulariaceae family and is found in the Himalayan region in India. This herb has been traditionally used in treating liver disorders. The antioxidant properties of P. kurroa were evaluated in vitro using different radical scavenging assays. Furthermore, liver slice culture system was used to test the antioxidant activity of this extract and ethanol was used as a hepatotoxin to generate oxidative stress. Hepatotoxicity was quantified in terms of release of intracellular marker enzymes lactate dehydrogenase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase. Oxidative stress induced by ethanol and its modulation in the presence of P. kurroa extract was tested by estimating the levels of antioxidant enzymes like catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase, and of antioxidant molecules like uric acid and reduced glutathione that were quantitated along with lipid peroxidation. Our results clearly demonstrate that aqueous extract of P. kurroa with high antioxidant activity, as demonstrated using different radical scavenging assays, was effective in suppressing the deleterious effects of ethanol. Addition of P. kurroa aqueous extract along with ethanol restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes and significantly reduced lipid peroxidation. Key words: Ethanol, hepatoprotective activity, liver slice culture, marker enzymes, oxidative stress, Picrorhiza kurroa