Modulation of Kupffer cell activity by Tinospora cordifolia in liver damage.

• Main Authors: Nagarkatti D, Rege N, Desai N, Dahanukar S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 1994-04-01
• Series: Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animal; Carbon; pharmacokinetics; Disease Models; Female; Kupffer Cells; physiology; Liver Failure; metabolism; physiopathology; therapy; Male; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Plants; Medicinal; Rats
• Online Access: http://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?issn=0022-3859;year=1994;volume=40;issue=2;spage=65;epage=7;aulast=Nagarkatti

Kupffer cells are major determinants of outcome of liver injury. Their activity was therefore studied in a model of chronic liver disease. The effect of Tinospora cordifolia, an indigenous agent with proven hepatoprotective activity, was evaluated on Kupffer cell function, using carbon clearance test as a parameter. Rats were divided into two major groups. In Gp I which served as normal control t1/2 of carbon was 9.48 +/- 4.14 min. GpII received horse-serum in a dose of 0.5 ml/100 gm b.w. i.p. for a period of 12 weeks and was divided into three sub-groups. In Gp IIA at the end of 12 weeks half-life of carbon was found to be significantly increased to 19.86 +/- 7.95 min (p < 0.01). Indicating suppressed Kupffer cell function in chronic liver damage. In Gp IIB treated with vehicle for 4 more weeks there was significant prolongation of half-life to 38.32 +/- 10.61 min (p < 0.01), indicating perpetuation of damage in absence of damaging agent. Whereas in Gp IIc, treated with Tinospora cordifolia t 1/2 was decreased to 14.24 7.74 min (p < .01), as compared to vehicle control indicating a significant improvement in Kupffer cell function and a trend towards normalization.