EFFECT OF GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA ON THE LIVER OF PREGNANT MICE

In the present study the Swiss white female mice were obtained from the department of Anatomy and the central animal house, Institute of medical sciences, Banaras Hindu University. Each group of experimental animal received, orally, 400mg/kg body weight of the drug with 0.5mlof distilled water, whereas the control mice of each group received the same volume of distilled water. The first group was treated with daily single oral dose of the Glycyrrhiza glabra for 1-3 days of gestation, the second group with daily dose of the same drug for 1-7days, whereas the third treated group received single dose from 1-17 days of gestation. All groups of pregnant mice were sacrificed on day 18th of gestation i.e. one day prior to delivery. The liver of the female pregnant mice were collected after laparotomy and observed for gross malformation, but there were no any external abnormalities in any treated group as compared to the control. The weight of the liver of the first and second group showed no significant change as compared with their corresponding controls, whereas in the third group there was significant increased in the weight compared with control. Microscopic examination of treated liver of first group was appeared to be normal as compared with the control group, whereas second group & third group showed dilation of and destruction of endothelial lining of central vein along with necrosis of hepatocytes. The pericentral necrosis was also observed in the third group.