Evaluation Of The Hepatoprotective Effect Of Nagaradi Kashayam (Amruthotharam) In High Fat Diet Induced Model Of Fatty Liver Disease In Male Wistar Rats

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a popular health concern due to an increased sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet. NAFLD is the pathological accumulation of triglycerides in the hepatocytes as macrovesicular steatosis in the absence of alcohol intake. Nagaradi Kashayam (Amruthotharam) is a polyherbal ayurvedic formulation mainly used for the treatment of all types of fevers, coughs, and indigestion. The study aims to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Nagaradi kashayam in a high-fat diet-induced NAFLD model in male Wistar rats. The methodology involves studying the hepatoprotective effects of silymarin and Nagaradi kashayam (0.5 ml/kg and 1.5 ml/kg) in the NAFLD model. Fatty liver is induced by feeding rats a lard-based, high-fat diet for 10 weeks. Rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control, disease control, silymarin-treated group, Nagaradi Kashayam Group I (0.5 ml/kg), and Nagaradi Kashayam Group II (1.5 ml/kg). The tissue protection was studied by histopathological evaluation of the liver using H&E and oil-red O staining. Tissue antioxidant parameters like reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation level, and serum parameters such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total cholesterol, and serum triglycerides were investigated. The phytochemical screening and in vitro antioxidant activity of the formulation were evaluated. Nagaradi kashayam was found to possess free radical scavenging effects in DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide, showing its antioxidant property. From biochemical studies, it is concluded that administration of Nagaradi kashayam at 1.5 ml/kg exhibited marked hepatoprotective activity, and the liver tissue protection and antisteatotic effect were confirmed by histopathological assessment.