Kolhapure and Mitra conducted a meta-analysis of 50 published study reports to ascertain the efficacy and safety of an herbal formulation in hepatitis A virus infection. The formulation comprises of Capparis spinosa, Cichorium intybus, Solanum nigrum, Terminalia arjuna, Cassia occidentalis, Achillea millefolium and Tamarix gallica.

Fifty clinical studies conducted over a 30-year period were considered for this meta-analysis. The mean duration of these studies was 6.62 months. Three of the 50 studies were double-blind placebo-controlled studies, 21 were placebo-controlled studies, 22 were non-comparative studies and 4 were case reports. The studies included a total of 4490 patients with 233 children being part of study population.

Cumulative data analysis revealed that there was a significant reduction in the mean serum bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, AP levels, PT and the mean period required for total (symptomatic, clinical and biochemical) recovery. Serum albumin and serum globulin levels were also increased significantly, when compared to the pre-treatment values, in all studies. There were no significant adverse events in all the trials included in the meta-analysis and the overall drug compliance was excellent.

The meta-analysis concludes that the herbal formulation seems to be effective and safe in the management of hepatitis A.

Source: Kolhapure SA, Mitra SK. Meta-analysis of 50 Phase III clinical trials in evaluation of efficacy and safety of Liv.52 in infective hepatitis. Medicine Update 2004:12(2):51-61.