Hepatoprotective effects of Liv-52 and its indirect influence on the regulation of thyroid hormones in rat liver toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride.

This study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of Liv-52, a herbal formulation, on various serum and liver marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation and histological changes in the liver of male albino rats suffering long-term carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) poisoning. It was observed that the activities of serum marker enzymes, hepatic enzymes and NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation were significantly elevated after treatment with CCl4. However, in rats given Liv-52 at the same time as CCl4, the levels of all the marker enzymes were closer to those found in control animals. A similar trend was seen in the case of lipid peroxidation after Liv-52 treatment. CCl4 alone caused severe liver damage, but when Liv-52 was simultaneously given, there was much less effect on the structure of the organ. Circulating T3 and T4 concentrations were also determined after 6 weeks of simultaneous treatment with Liv-52 and CCl4. Concentrations of T3 were significantly lowered after CCl4 treatment alone, but Liv-52 administration together with CCl4 resulted in maintenance of the T3 activity within normal limits, thus suggesting indirect beneficial effects of Liv-52 on the regulation of thyroid hormone concentrations.