Andrographolide from the herb Andrographis paniculata (whole plant) per se produces a significant dose (1.5-12 mg/kg) dependent choleretic effect (4.8-73%) as evidenced by increase in bile flow, bile salt, and bile acids in conscious rats and anaesthetized guinea pigs. The paracetamol induced decrease in volume and contents of bile was prevented significantly by andrographolide pretreatment. It was found to be more potent than silymarin, a clinically used hepatoprotective agent.
Picroliv, the hepatoprotective principle of the plant Picrorhiza kurroa, showed a dose-dependent (1.5-12 mg/kg x 7) choleretic effect in conscious rats and anaesthetised guinea pigs. It also possessed a marked anticholestatic effect against paracetamol- and ethynylestradiol-induced cholestasis. It antagonised the changes in bile volume as well as the contents (bile salts and bile acids). Silymarin, a known hepatoprotective agent, was tested simultaneously for comparison. Picroliv was found to be a more potent choleretic and anticholestatic agent than silymarin.
Ursolic .acid has been evaluated for its choleretic, anticholestatic and hepatoprotective activities in rats. It produced a dose-dependent (5-20 mg/kg) choleretic effect. Significant anticholestatic activity (27.9-100%) was observed against paracetamol (2.0 glkg) induced cholestasis. The compound also showed a marked hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol and galactosamine (800 mg/kg) induced hepatotoxicity by reversing the altered values in viability of the isolated hepatocytes and the altered biochemical liver and serum parameters. The activity of ursolic acid compared well with the known hepatoprotective drug, silymarin.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.