POTATO CHIPS INDUCED HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE LIVER OF WISTAR ALBINO RATS AND ITS MANAGEMENT WITH BHRINGARAJA SWARASA

Background: The liver is the principal organ of metabolism, detoxification and biotransformation, and is highly vulnerable to dietary and oxidative insults. Rising consumption of processed, deep-fried potato chips, rich in oxidised fats, excess salt and acrylamide formed during frying, has been linked to hepatocellular injury. Many Rasayana drugs have hepatoprotective activity, one among them is Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba). Objective: To evaluate potato chips induced hepatotoxicity, with liver function test and liver histopathology and to assess the curative efficacy of Bhringaraja Swarasa in Wistar albino rats. Methods: Eighteen adult Wistar albino rats (weighing around 200–250 gm) were allotted to three groups of six each, i.e, Group I (control), Group II (disease group) and Group III (curative group). Liver function tests (LFTs) and liver histopathological test were performed at the end of each phase. Results: Group II showed marked elevation of Aspartate amino Transferase (AST), Alanine amino Transferase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), compared with control (p < 0.001), with histopathology showing hepatocyte ballooning, cytoplasmic vacuolation, sinusoidal congestion and inflammatory infiltration. Group III showed significant biochemical recovery and near-restoration of normal hepatic lobular architecture. Conclusion: Chronic potato chips consumption produces measurable structural and biochemical hepatotoxicity in rats and Bhringaraja Swarasa demonstrates significant hepatoprotective and hepato-regenerative activity.