Effect of Ocimum sanctum (OS) leaf extract on hepatotoxicity induced by antitubercular drugs in rats.

Healthy adult albino rats of either sex of Wistar strain weighing 150 to 250 g were used after approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee. They were kept on standard pellet diet and were allowed free access to food and water. The doses of antitubercular drugs (isoniazid (I)-27 mg/kg/day, rifampicin (R)-54 mg/kg/day, pyrazinamide (Z)-135 mg/kg/day) were extrapolated from daily human dose using the conversion table based on body surface area (8). All the three drugs were obtained from Plethico Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Indore. Ocimum sanctum leaves were co l lected af ter authentication by pharmacognosist. Air dried powder of Ocimum sanctum leaves was extracted by perco lat ion at room temperature with 70% ethyl alcohol. The extract was concentrated under reduced pressure (bath temperature 50°C) and finally dried in vaccum desiccator. The residue of Ocimum sanctum leaf extract was dissolved in propylene glycol at a concentration of 100 mg/ml and was used in the experiment (7). OS leaf extract was administered in the dose of 200 mg/kg/day Drug induced hepatotoxicity is a major form of iatrogenic disease. The combination of isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide is commonly used for chemotherapy of pulmonary tuberculosis and all the three are known to be potentially hepatotoxic (1). Treatment of drug induced hepatotoxicity is largely directed towards discontinuing the of fending drug (2 ) , which is most ly undesirable in chemotherapy of tuberculosis. Hence the need of an easily available hepatoprotective agent.