Effect of Kalmegh extract on rat liver and serum enzymes

Oral administration of Kalmegh extract under acute (single dosage) and sub-acute (for 7 and 15 consecutive days) conditions at a dosage of 0.5 g dry leaf/kg/day to adult rats produced no change in the activities of glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in liver and rerum. Administration of ethyl alcohol at a dosage of 0.2 g/kg/day (oral) for 7 and 15 consecutive days produced an appreciable increase in liver GOT and GPT activities. No appreciable change in serum GOT and GPT activities was observed under similar condition of treatment. Oral administration of a high dosage of ethyl alcohol (3 g/kg/day) produced significant increase in the activities of serum enzymes only. This alcohol-induced increase in serum transaminase activity became normal with pre- and post-treatment of Kalmegh extract (0.5 g/kg/day). This result suggests that Kalmegh extract protects alcohol-induced toxic-effect in liver tissue.