Abstract

REVIEW ON EVALUATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY

Shalini Kumari*

Abstract

Hepatotoxicity is an injury to the liver that is caused by exposure to a drug or other infectious agent. The understanding and treatment of hepatotoxicity has developed rapidly over the last 40 years reducing morbidity and mortality from. Progress had been made by the study of different animal models that shows the clinical, biochemical and histological characteristics of the hepatotoxicity seen in man. This review examines the various approaches to the study of hepatotoxicity in animal models, including both surgical and pharmacological approaches. Hepatotoxicity carries a very high mortality of 80–90% in all over the world. Advances in the field of artificial liver support systems are hindered by the lack of a standard clinically relevant model of hepatotoxicity. For the last 30 years several animal models have been used with limited success. Each model often reflects a particular aspect of hepatotoxicity. Species susceptibility to hepatotoxins and their response to surgical intervention have limited the choice of models. Small animal models have been used extensively for many, but the need for a robust and repeatable larger animal model that can be used to assess potential therapies has not yet been achieved. This review examines the requirements of an animal model, and the techniques that have been used so far.

Keywords: Hepatotoxicity, Animal models, Drug induced hepatotoxicity, Hepatotoxin.