Effect of Picrorrhiza kurroa and Eclipta alba on Na+K+ATPase in hepatic injury by hepatotoxic agents

Sodium potassium activated-adenosine-triphosphatase is intimately involved in the active transport of electrolytes across the biologic membranes.This presentation aims to review the evidence for a role of Na+K+ ATpase in tissue injury with different drugs, with particular reference to the liver. Rat liver has been used as an experimental model.Chronic liver injury has been produced by (i) carbon tetrachloride (ii) paracetamol and (iii) aflatoxin. The altered activity of Na+K+ATpase with toxic hepatic injury indicates the role of Na+K+ATpase at the cellular level, which is also correlated with the altered function of enzymes such as hepatic glutamic oxaloacetic and pyruvic transaminases. The effect of Picrorhiza kurroa and Eclipta alba have been studied to know their protective effect against the toxic hepatic injury. Restoration of Na+K+ATpase activity to normal by these two indigenous drugs indicates their hepatoprotective role against toxic hepatic injuries by various hepatotoxic agents used in the experimental study.