SELECTION OF MINIMAL APPLICABLE DOSE OF TINCTURE OF THE HOSTA LANCIFOLIA ON A MODEL OF TETRACHLORMETHAN AFFECTION OF LIVER

Abstract

Introduction. Combined therapy of liver diseases of different genesis requires use of secure multifunctional pharmacologic agents – hepatoprotectors that contribute to the preservation and restoration of damaged tissues of this organ.

Therefore, despite the significant achievements in the field of production of the synthetic pharmacologic agents of new generation, in the last decade there is observed ever-increasing interest in herbal medicines. This can be explained by presence of a wide spectrum of pharmacological action that gently and harmoniously affects all body systems with a minimum number of side effects during long-term use.

The aim of our study was to select minimal active dose of hosta lancifolia tincture under condition of acute carbon tetrachloride hepatitis.

Materials and methods of research. For research there was used hosta lancifolia tincture (extractant 50% ethanol spirit v/v) and model of animal affection with carbon tetrachloride (CCI₄). The study was conducted on white underbred male rats of the weight of 170-180 g.

Carbon tetrachloride was injected twice (in a day) as 50% of oil solution in doses of 1.0 ml/kg of animals body weight (infected animals). Corrective action of tincture was studied in a dose of 0.1 ml/kg, 0.15 ml/kg, 0.20 ml/kg, 0.25 ml/kg of animals body weight (4 groups). The study was carried out on the 4^th day of carbon tetrachloride hepatitis. The animals were subjected to euthanasia under thiopental narcosis.

For research there was used whole blood, blood serum and liver of experimental animals. The activity of oxidative processes, including lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system state after the introduction of corrective factors was evaluated by the content of thiobarbituric acid – active products (TBA-AP), ceruloplasmin (CP) and the activity of catalase (CT). Permeability of erythrocyte membranes and hepatocytes plasma membranes after administration of corrective doses of tincture was studied by erythrocyte intoxication index(EII) and aminotransferases activity (ALT, AST).

The results were subject to statistical analysis using Student’s t-test. Changes considered to be accurate at p ≤ 0,05.

Results and discussion. According to the data, after correction of lipid peroxidation of carbon tetrachloride hepatitis with hosta lancifolia tincture at a dose of 0.2 ml/kg and 0.25 ml/kg there was observed decrease of TBA-AP in blood serum by 48% and 55% respectively (p≤0,05) in respect to the affected animals.

Introduced tincture dose of 0.25 ml/kg of body weight renewed activity of catalase (CT) to the level of intact control. All the studied doses were effective by determining the content of ceruloplasmin (CP) in blood serum (p≤0,05).

There was observed increase of EII by 46.4%, increase of ALT and AST activity in blood serum by 257% and 57% respectively and their reduction in liver (ALT – 28%, AST – 47%) after lesion. Correction with tincture at a dose of 0.1 ml/kg resulted in a slight normalization of all parameters studied. Introduction of tincture at a dose of 0.15 ml/kg resulted in reducing the permeability of erythrocyte membranes by 24.2% at a dose of 0.2 ml/kg – 24.4%, at a dose of 0.25 ml/kg – 37%.

To assess the degree of liver damage by the animals affected by carbon tetrachloride, and after introduction of hosta lancifolia tincture we used AST/ALT ratio. Introduction of tincture at a dose of 0.1 ml/kg resulted in a slight normalization of this index. Doses of 0.15 ml/kg, 0.20 ml/kg and 0.25 ml/kg proved to be effective in the study of ALT activity and changed AST/ALT ratio towards growth, indicating a recovery of hepatocytes permeability by the animals after lesion.

Conclusions. There was detected that hosta lancifolia tincture shows positive effects on indicators of free radical oxidation and antioxidant system by rats after lesion with carbon tetrachloride. By using tincture there was marked recovery of plasma cells membranes permeability, as indicated with the decrease in erythrocyte intoxication index and normalization of aminotransferase activity in blood serum and liver of infected rats.

Based on the data received there was appeared tincture of 0.15 ml/kg of animals body weight to be minimal active dose, that allows us to recommend it for further researches.