Efficacy of a traditional unani formulation Jawarish-e-Amla Sada against CCl4induced liver toxicity in Albino Wistar rats: Comparison with silymarin treatment

Abstract

Background: Jawarish-e-Amla Sada (JAS); a polyherbal Unani formulation, is claimed as a potential hepatoprotective agent in traditional Unani medicine treatise. Aims and Objectives: Though, JAS has its composition recorded in ancient Unani texts, there have been minimal attempts to scientifically validate its hepatoprotective potential. The present work is an attempt to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of JAS in vivo. Materials and Methods: CCl 4 intoxicated Albino Wistar rats were used to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of JAS (0.7 g/kg and 1.0 g/kg, p.o.) and the results were compared with, silymarin. The efficacy was established on the basis of altered levels of biochemical markers and histopathological analysis of the liver tissue. Results and Discussion: Treatment with the aqueous slurry of JAS significantly reduced the level of biochemical markers in CCl 4 intoxicated rats. These findings were well-supported by the histopathological analysis of liver tissue. The effect shown by JAS was found to be at par with silymarin treatment. Conclusion: This study suggests that CCl 4 induced liver damage can be ameliorated by traditional Unani formulation JAS. This justifies the traditional claim of JAS being a hepatoprotective agent