Randomized controlled clinico-pathological study of ethanol toxicity in rats and its amelioration with commercially available herbal preparations

Chronic alcohol consumption causes oxidative stress, liver damage and multi-organ toxicity. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects of Liv-52, Rohitakarista, their combination and Silymarin against ethanol-induced toxicity in rats. Thirty-six healthy adult rats were divided into six groups and administered ethanol followed by the respective treatments, after which serum biochemical markers, hepatic MDA levels, triglycerides, bilirubin, creatinine, organ weights, body weight gain and histopathology of liver and kidney tissues were assessed. Ethanol significantly elevated GGT, AST, ALT, triglycerides, bilirubin, creatinine, hepatic MDA and organ weights while reducing body weight gain (p ≤ 0.05). Liv-52 significantly improved liver function markers and reduced hepatic MDA, Rohitakarista more effectively lowered creatinine and kidney weight and both Silymarin and the Liv-52 + Rohitakarista combination produced the most comprehensive protection with near-normal biochemical and histological profiles. Thus, Liv-52 and Rohitakarista demonstrated marked hepatorenal protective effects and their combination exhibited synergistic benefits comparable to or exceeding those of Silymarin.