Effect of Andrographis paniculata leaves and Androgapholide on ethanol metabolism was investingated both in vivo and in vitro. A single or repeated (for 7 and 14 consecutive days) oral administration of Andrographis paniculata leaves suspension (500 mg/kg) or Andrographolide suspension (5 mg/kg) to wistar male albino rats (body wt. 200-250 g) had no effect on blood ethanol concentration. This result of the in vivo study correlated well with that of the in vitro study; after treatment with the same single dose or long term oral administration of Andrographis paniculata leaves and Andrographolide produced no significant change in the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (the two enzyme systems responsible for the oxidation of ethanol). Long term administration (for 7 and 14 consecutive days) of Andrographis paniculata leaves and Andrographolide also produced no significant change in the relative liver weight of the rats. All data showed that Andrographis paniculata leaves and Andrographolide at doses employed in this investigation may have no effect on ethanol metabolism when concentrated on the activities of enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase and microsomal ethanol oxidizing system.
