Protective effect of Triphala Rasayana against paracetamol-induced hepato–renal toxicity in mice

BACKGROUND Paracetamol, a widely used analgesic and antipyretic, is known to cause liver and renal injury in humans when administered in higher and repeated doses that cause acute liver injury. Triphala is a well-known Ayurvedic Rasayana formulation that is prescribed for balancing of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Traditionally, it is used for the treatment of liver and kidney diseases. OBJECTIVE The present study was undertaken to examine the protective effect of Triphala extract against paracetamol-induced hepato-renal injury in Swiss albino mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Swiss albino mice (weight 20-25 g) were used in this study. The mice were divided into five groups of six animals each. The aqueous extract of Triphala was given orally at two different doses (100 and 300 mg/kg body weight) for seven consecutive days, followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of paracetamol (500 mg/kg body weight) to induce hepato-renal toxicity. Serum levels of liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, creatinine, urea and uric acid were measured as indices of liver and renal injury. All the statistical analyses were performed with the help of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Student-Newman-Keuls test as post hoc test. Results were considered statistically significant when P < 0.05. RESULTS Pre-treatment with Triphala extract at 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weight exhibited a significant (P < 0.01) hepatoprotective activity. The protective effect of Triphala extract at 300 mg/kg body weight appears more effective than 100 mg/kg body weight. CONCLUSION The present study gives an evidence of the protective role of Triphala extract against paracetamol-induced hepato-renal toxicity and validates its traditional claim in the Ayurveda system.