https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8049-3703
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Abstract
Teratogenicity and hyperuricaemia are the main side effects of favipiravir, an antiviral drug recently found its use to treat mild to moderate coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. This study investigated the beneficial effect of herbal extracts like Picrorrhiza kurroa (PK) and Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) and their active chemical constituents (baicalin and baicalein) on favipiravir-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The formulation combinations included favipiravir, favipiravir + PK extract, favipiravir + pure baicalin, favipiravir + pure baicalein, and favipiravir + SB extract designated as F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 respectively that were administered to rats orally for 21 days. Favipiravir caused increased levels of SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total bilirubin, and uric acid and decreased liver weight which was alleviated when alloherbal formulation of favipiravir and baicalein combination and favipiravir and SB extract was used. This paper highlights an attractive proposition to ameliorate favipiravir-induced hepatotoxicity using hepatoprotective agents.
Graphical abstract
Acknowledgement
Authors are grateful to Mr. Vinod R Jadhav, Chairman, SHL and Mr. Dinesh Kapoor, MD, SHL for their constant support and encouragement.
Authorship contribution statement
Rohan Magdum: Performed experiments and generated the data. Sanman Kolhe: Arrived at the concept, performed experiments, and interpreted the data. Pramod Kolsure: Prepared formulations and generated the data. Umesh Chandra Dash: Prepared preliminary draft of the manuscript, reviewed and interpreted the data. Sriram Padmanabhan: Ideated the concept, designed, supervised the study, edited and reviewed the manuscript.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.