DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF POLYHERBAL NUTRACEUTICAL TEA COMPRISING SILYBUM MARIANUM AND ZINGIBER OFFICINALE

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose remains one of the most common cause of drug induced hepatotoxicity worldwide due to formation of toxic metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI) which is conjugated with glutathione. Due to depleted glutathione levels and Paracetamol overdose leads to NAPQI accumulation in hepatocytes leading to necrosis. The present study aims to develop and evaluate herbal neutraceutical tea comprising Silybum marianum and Zingiber officinale as hepatoprotective and anti inflammatory intervention against hepatotoxicity. The phytochemical silymarin isolated from silybum marianum exhibits potent hepatoprotective action while gingerol isolated from Zingiber officinale exibits anti-inflammatory as well as anti oxidant activity. Combination of these phytochemicals may exert synergistic hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory action simultaneously targeting oxidative stress and hepatocellular membrane integrity. The crude drug underwent authentication followed by preformulation studies. Post formulation validation conducted through infrared (IR) spectroscopy and in vitro hepatoprotective assay concludes that this polyherbal nutraceutical approach may offer a complementary strategy for overcoming drug induced hepatotoxicity and improve patient compliance. This neutraceutical offers a natural methodology for management of drug induced hepatotoxicity with potential benefits for liver protection and recovery.