AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF QURS-E-AFSANTEEN ON GENTAMICIN INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RABBITS

Qurs-e-afsanteen (R) has been reported to possess hepatoprotective potential, contains Artemisia absinthium (Afsanteen), Valerianaofficinalis (Sumbal-ut-tayyab), Rheum emodi (Ravendcheni), potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride. The present study was conducted to assess the protective effects of Qurs-e-afsanteen against gentamicin-induced liver toxicity in rabbits. Thirty rabbits were divided into five groups having six rabbits in each. Group 1: Normal control on routine diet; Group 2: Untreated control on Gentasym (R) injection (gentamicin 80mg/kg I/P); Group 3: Treated control on Gentasym (R) injection (gentamicin 80mg/kg I/P) + tablet Silliver (R) (silymarin 200mg/kg orally); Group 4: Treated group I on Gentasym (R) injection (gentamicin 80mg/kg I/P) + tablet Qurs-e-afsanteen (R)(50mg/kg orally); Group 5: Treated group II on Gentasym (R) injection (gentamicin 80mg/kg I/P) + tablet Qurs-e-afsanteen (R) (100mg/kg orally). Qurs-e-afsanteen (R) showed high percentage of flavonoid and phenolic components upon phytochemical analysis. Combination of Qurs-e-afsanteen (R) with Gentamicin restored the liver function parameters towards normal in a dose dependent manner. Qurs-e-afsanteen (R) significantly increased hepatic Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and significantly decreased the Total Oxidant Status (TOS) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Antimicrobial assay of Qurs-e-afsanteen (R) exhibited significant antimicrobial activity and DNA damage protection properties. Histopathological analysis also supported the defensive nature of Qurs-e-afsanteen (R) against gentamicin induced liver damage.