fruit d’amla; amla fruit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Andrographis paniculata (andrographis), Phyllanthus niruri (stone breaker), and Phyllanthus emblica (amla or Indian gooseberry) are all known to provide liver protection effects, but have not been studied in combinations. The purpose of this research was to study a combination of the three against liver damage caused by paracetamol, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and ethanol in rats. Results of the study were compared to the liver protection of silymarin (from milk thistle or Silybum marianum) as standard therapy. CCl4, paracetamol, and ethanol are known to cause liver damage. Silymarin has been well studied as a liver protector.
Testing of the blood for bilirubin and for liver enzymes SGOT, SGPT, LDH, and ALP was carried out before and after rats were exposed to the toxins. Liver cells contain large amounts of enzymes which may leak into the blood after liver damage, raising blood levels of those chemicals. Microscopic slides of the livers were also studied for liver damage.
The study showed that pretreatment of the rats with a combination of the three herbs was “potent” in preventing liver toxicity, and equivalent to the standard silymarin. This combination of the three herbs “might be useful for liver protection”. The three herbs have all been reported traditionally as being liver protective.
CONCLUSION: A combination of amla, andrographis, and stone breaker was as good as silymarin in protecting the liver from toxicity.
NOTES: Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) is one of the most important medicines in Ayurvedic medicine. It is a rich source of vitamin C. Andrographis is used in Ayurvedic medicine as well. Phyllanthus niruri (stone breaker or chanca pedra) is found in Brazil.
To read the author’s abstract of the article, click on the title of the article. Then, to read the full article, click on the full text icon.
PMID: 22224062.
Summary #689.
