Protective Effects of a Purified Saponin Mixture from Astragalus corniculatus Bieb., in vivo Hepatotoxicity Models

In this study, the in vivo effects of a purified saponin mixture (PSM), obtained from Astragalus corniculatus Bieb., were investigated using two in vivo hepatotoxicity models based on liver damage caused by paracetamol (PC) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). The effects of PSM were compared with silymarin. Male Wistar rats were challenged orally with 20% CCl₄ or PC (2 g/kg) four days after being pre‐treated with PSM (100 mg/kg) or silymarin (200 mg/kg). A significant decrease of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and glutathione (GSH) levels and an increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) quantity was observed after CCl₄ and PC administration alone. PSM pre‐treatment decreased serum transaminases and LDH activities and MDA levels and increased the levels of cell protector GSH. Biotransformation phase I enzymes were also assessed in both models. In the CCl₄ hepatotoxicity model, pre‐treatment with PSM or silymarin resulted in significantly increased activities of ethylmorphine‐N‐demethylase and aniline 4‐hydroxylase activity and cytochrome P450, compared to the CCl₄ only group. Neither silymarin nor PSM influenced PC biotransformation. Our results suggest that PSM, obtained from A. corniculatus, Bieb. showed in vivo hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities against CCl₄ and PC‐induced liver damage comparable to that of silymarin. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.