Effect of Liv-52 on hepatic enzymes.

Liv.52 syrup, an Ayurvedic liver-tonic and extract of Solanum nigrum (one of the constituents of Liv.52) were orally administered (0.125 ml/kg b wt./day which is equal to human dose) to weaning rats for 11 weeks. Liv.52 treated rats exhibited better growth during 3rd to 8th week than those administered extract of S. nigrum or controls, after which period the body weight in all the groups gradually became more or less equal. After 11 weeks the protein level in the liver of rats treated with Liv.52 was slightly higher and the rats exhibited reduction in hexobarbital induced sleeping time. Mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome c oxidase and ATPase increased in both the Liv.52-treated and S. nigrum-treated rats. In Liv.52-fed rats the activities of the drug metabolising enzymes, aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine N-demethylase were stimulated but lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, acid deoxyribonuclease, acid ribonuclease and cathepsin B were inhibited. There was no significant change in the activity of these enzymes in rats given the extract of S. nigrum. After 48 hours of administration of CCl4, the activities of the mitochondrial and microsomal enzymes registered a decrease and those of the lysosomal enzymes increased in control as well as Liv.52-fed rats. Feeding of Liv.52 gave protection against a decrease in the activity of the mitochondrial enzymes and aniline hydroxylase consequent to administration of carbon tetrachloride but did not affect the increase in the activity of lysosomal enzymes.