Abstract

Background: The effectiveness of Lycopodium clavatum, Silybum marianum and Senna occidentalis is still controversial due to the lack of scientific evidence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of association of these three plants on patients with Chronic
Hepatitis B (CHB).
Methods: We conducted an experimental study in Makeu Foundation on patients with chronic hepatitis B. The effect on hepatoprotective markers was determined by the determination of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)/ Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) by enzymatic method and Viral Load (VL) and by PCR. The effect on hematological and renal function was determined by the kinetic, Jaffé colorimetric and impedance methods respectively after three and six months of treatment.
Results: A total of 36 out of 83 seropositive patients with the HBc antibodies (HBc-Ab) and HBs antigen (HBS-Ag) were follow-up during 6 months. The mean of ALT activity normalized from 105.804 to 38.30 IU/L after 3 months of treatment (P=0.0396). This decrease was related to the disappearance of viral DNA observed in 5.55% of patients after 6 months. Lymphocyte concentration increased significantly after 3 months of treatment from 2.30 ± 0.69 to 3.42 ± 1.25 × 103/μL. The glomerular filtration rate collapsed significantly in patients after 3 months of treatment from 121.47 ± 39.38 to 90.24 ± 9.70 ml/min.
Conclusion: The association of these medecinal preparations reduces VL of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), increases lymphocyte concentration while reducing the glomerular filtration rate of patients with CHB.

Keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; Medicinal preparations; L.clavatum; S.marianum; S.occidentalis