Effect of Glycyrrhiza Glabra on the Liver of Growing Embryo of 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. The embryos of each group were collected on 18^th day of gestation. The liver of each experimental fetuses were observed, but there were no any external abnormalities found in any group of liver as compared to their corresponding control. The first and second group of liver revealed no any significant changes in the weight but it was found significantly increased in third group of fetuses. The microscopic examination of the liver appeared to be normal in the first experimental group, as compared with its control group, whereas the second group revealed dilatation of central vein and sinusoids, destruction of central vein and distortion of endothelial lining along with increase in number of hepatocytes, leading to hepatocytosis. The histological feature of the third treated liver revealed almost the same histological findings as seen in second group along with pericentral necrosiss.The finding showed that the drug had no antioxidant activities in higher dose and duration.