Suriyavathana Vedanarayanan M, Krishnan N. Ayurvedic formulation of Liv-Pro-08 reduces nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in rats fed with high-fat diet. 1. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2011 Dec;4(4):236-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jams.2011.09.014. Epub 2011 Oct 18.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a serious obesity-related disorder, and it will continue to be a major liver health issue worldwide in the coming decades. We aimed to determine the effect of Liv-Pro-08 (Nigella sativa, Entada pursaetha, and Ficus glomerata) an oral ayurvedic formulation on rats fed with high-fat diet. Rats were given a high-fat diet for a period of 7 days. After this period, Liv-Pro-08 (250, 500, and 750 mg/kg.body weight was given orally for 7 days. We examined the effect of the high-fat diet on various parameters related to obesity and insulin resistance. In the experimental rats who received the extract of Liv-Pro-08, their lipoprotein profiles were significantly improved compared with those that are not receiving the extract. Also, a slight reduction was observed in serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase enzymes. Moreover, Liv-Pro-08 significantly decreased their fasting serum glucose and fasting insulin levels. This experimental study suggests that Liv-Pro-08 can act as a therapeutic tool in preventing NAFLD progression (i.e., reducing hepatic lipid accumulation). Although further investigations and large randomized trials should be conducted, ayurvedic Liv-Pro-08 oral formulation may be a potential natural drug for NAFLD in the future.