'Kalojam' prevents liver diseases caused by chronic alcohol drinking
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Bangladesh, May 15 -- Research on animals shows that seed extract of 'kalojam' (black berry) significantly prevents or slows down liver diseases (hepatic diseases) resulting from alcoholism (chronic liquor drinking) and related free radical-induced tissue injury.
Free radical is a highly reactive chemical reactant that causes various types of harm to the body's biological and biochemical function leading to many serious diseases, reports UNB.
'Kalojam' seed extract scavenges and decreases the liver lipid peroxides, the most culprit free radical species, which punctures liver cells and elevates the serum enzyme level. The extract also significantly decreases the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) and triglyceride in liver and blood.
Prof Dr Md Shahadat Hossain of the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Jahangirnagar University and his associates tested the effect of the kalojam-seed extract on the liver enzymes and cholesterol levels of alcohol consumed-rats to produce a model condition for the alcohol drinkers.
The study results show that kalojam seed has reduced and normalised the enzyme activities of Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) and Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase (GOT) which are increased in the alcohol-consumed rats.
The levels of these enzymes increase during various liver diseases as indicator of liver dysfunction like fatty liver, jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from The Financial Express. For more information on news feed please contact Sarabjit Jagirdar at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
