Effect of Short and Long Term Intake of Traditional Aphrodisiac Cantharis Q on Liver of Male Albino Rat

Cantharis Q has a long history in both folk and traditional medicine being used as an aphrodisiac. It is a crude alcoholic extract of blister beetle Lytta vesicatoria commonly known as Spanish fly having cantharidin, a venomous substance present in it. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical application of Cantharis Q by assessing its effect on the vital organ, liver, for a short and long period in male albino rat. The recovery study was also carried out in order to establish the reversibility of the treatment. Male albino rats of Wistar strain were given daily oral dosage of 500 μg/Kg body weight Cantharis Q for 15 and 60 days. One group of 60-day treated rats was then kept for recovery without dosing for 30 days. The biochemical analysis of liver showed that the activity of alkaline and acid phosphatase enzymes decreased in the treated rats for both durations of treatment. Livers of 15-day treated animals had significantly increased RNA and total protein. Sixty days treatment led to a significant increase in cholesterol and significant decrease in glycogen, total protein and RNA levels in liver. Recovery animals had liver glycogen content significantly depleted whereas cholesterol, total protein and RNA increased significantly. The histopathology showed loss of cytoarchitecture in various areas of liver, vacuolation and inflammatory cellular infiltration in all the groups. Thus, it was observed that oral intake of Cantharis Q had a negative impact on the hepatic function of male rats and the recovery was also not found to be significant.