Role of Liv-52 in protection against beryllium intoxication.

An ayurvedic medicine, Liv-52, was studied as a prophylactic agent against beryllium-induced toxicity in rats. Administration of beryllium per se caused severe degenerative and necrotic changes in kidneys, liver, and uterus. Beryllium exposure also reduced glycogen content, activities of alkaline phosphatase, succinate-dehydrogenase, and adenosine-triphosphatase in these organs. On the contrary, activities of acid phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase showed marginal increase. Liv-52-primed rats exhibited comparatively less marked toxic effects.