Pharmacodynamics & toxicological profile of PartySmart, a herbal preparation for alcohol hangover in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: PartySmart is a herbal preparation intended for the management of alcohol hangover and other related toxic effects in clinical situation. The present study was designed to investigate the pharmacodynamics and oral toxicity of PartySmart, a herbal formulation in rats. METHODS: Effect of PartySmart on blood acetaldehyde and alcohol levels was evaluated at doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt. in rats. Acute toxicity study was conducted with PartySmart at a limit test dose of 2000 mg/kg b.wt., p.o. In repeated dose 90 day study, PartySmart was administered at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.wt. once-a-day, orally throughout the study period. RESULTS: PartySmart dose-dependently decreased blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels as compared to control. PartySmart at a dose of 500 mg/kg b.wt. significantly reduced the area under curve (AUC) of ethanol and acetaldehyde levels. It increased the hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) at 500 mg/kg b.wt. and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. significantly. Acute toxicity study showed no clinical signs and pre-terminal deaths. The LD(50) of PartySmart was found to be greater than 2000 mg/kg b.wt. No significant differences in PartySmart-treated groups were observed on body weight, food intake, haematological and clinical chemistry, and organ weight ratios as compared to control group in the repeated dose study. Histopathological examination of all target organs showed no evidence of lesions attributing to drug toxicity. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: PartySmart enhanced acetaldehyde metabolism by increasing ADH and ALDH activity without any side effects. These findings indicate that PartySmart may exert beneficial role in the management of alcohol hangover without any toxicity.

Induction and evaluation of atherosclerosis in New Zealand white rabbits.

Atherosclerosis was experimentally induced in New Zealand white rabbits by feeding a high cholesterol diet for 12 weeks for screening of drugs against atherosclerosis. After 12 weeks, blood was collected from ear vein for evaluation of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels, then the animals were sacrificed to collect the livers for estimation of cholesterol, and aorta for gross and histopathological evaluations. The elevated levels of serum and liver parameters accompanied by gross and histopathological changes like accumulation of foam cells, atheromatous plaque formation and replacement fibrosis supported the successful induction of atherosclerosis in New Zealand white rabbits.

Effect of HD-03--a herbal formulation in galactosamine-induced hepatopathy in rats.

The effect of HD-03 a herbal preparation was studied on galactosamine (400 mg/kg b.wt., i.p.) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Animals were pre-treated for 14 days with HD-03 and compared against untreated group for SGPT, SGOT, serum bilirubin and liver glycogen. Histopathology of liver lobes was considered to evaluate the extent of hepatic injury induced by galactosamine. These were reversed by HD-03 pre-treatment. HD-03 provided convincing evidence of hepatoprotection against galactosamine induced hapatotoxicity.

Anti-cholestatic activity of HD-03, a herbal formulation in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced experimental cholestasis.

In the present study HD-03, a herbal formulation was investigated for its anti-cholestatic activity in TAA-induced cholestasis in anaesthetized guinea pigs. Administration of TAA at a dose of 100 mg/kg body wt significantly reduced the bile flow, bile acid and bile salt excretion. Pretreatment with HD-03 at a dose of 750 mg/kg body wt per orally for 15 days in guinea pigs significantly prevented thioacetamide-induced changes in bile flow, bile acids and bile salts excretion. Thus, HD-03 can serve as a potent choleretic and anti-cholestatic agent.