HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Hawthorn is Also a Liver Protector

Study Abstract

Myocardial infarction produces significant abnormal liver functioning. In the present study the hepatoprotective effect of tincture of Crataegus (TCR) in myocardially infarcted rats was investigated. The oral administration of TCR to rats for 30 days afforded good protection against isoproterenol-induced alterations in tissue marker enzymes of liver injury like alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferease, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase and in protein-bound carbohydrates like hexose, hexosamine, fucose, and sialic acid. The protective effect of TCR was further supported by the reversal of isoproterenol-induced histological changes in the liver. The results suggest that TCR, which can protect the heart and circulatory system, can also be hepatoprotective and thereby maintain the near normal architecture of liver tissue.

Study Information

Thirupurasundari CJ, Jayalakshmi R, Niranjali Devaraj S.
Liver architecture maintenance by tincture of Crataegus against isoproterenol-induced myocardially infarcted rats.
J Med Food.
2005 October
Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.