Biomedical Research

Alcoholic hepatitis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. This study focuses on Phyllanthus Amarus therapy and its effect on liver in alcoholic hepatitis. The therapy tries to protect the liver by investigating liver profile enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, antioxidant vitamins and lipid peroxidation. The study consists of 50 well diagnosed alcoholic hepatitis males aged between 33 to 55 years. The control group includes 50 age-matched normal healthy persons. Oxidative stress was assessed by estimating lipid peroxidation [LPO]. Parameters like serum bilirubin, total proteins and activity of liver profile enzymes were chosen. The activity of enzymatic antioxidants, superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], catalase, and levels of non- enzymatic antioxidant vitamin E and vitamin C were measured in plasma or erythrocytes. Methods used in the study are mainly enzyme kinetics by auto-analyzer and turbidimetry. Plasma LPO levels were significantly high but activity of SOD, GPx, catalase, and levels of vitamin E and vitamin C were significantly lowered in alcoholic hepatitis when compared with controls. After phyllanthus amarus therapy, for four and eight weeks, plasma LPO levels significantly decreased and activity of SOD, GPx, catalase and levels of vitamin E and C significantly increased in alcoholic hepatitis. This study concludes that the imbalance between oxidative stress and anti-oxidants may play an important role in alcoholic hepatitis. Elevated free radicals may cause hepatic cell loss and play a role in pathogenesis of alcoholic hepatitis. This study strongly suggests that the therapy of phyllanthus amarus increases activity antioxidants and reduces lipid peroxidation; protects liver from damage due to free radicals in alcoholic hepatitis.

Author(s): Padmaja Nikam, Shashikant Nikam, Ajit Sontakke1, Chitra Khanwelkar
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