ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF“GAN FU KANG” IN PREVENTING EXPERIMENTAL LIVER DAMAGE IN MICE

“Gan Fu Kang”,a 10:1 mixture of saponins ofRadix Ginseng and Radix Bupleuri was found toprevent liver injury induced by injected CCl_4 inmice.Mouse hepatic parenchymal cells damaged byCCL_4 demonstrate quantities of vacuoles 500-3000nmin diameter in the cytoplasm,swollen endoplasmicreticulum,expanded intervals of nuclear membrane(up to 100-300nm)and confused this is not a word;however the noun form of whatever this is belongshere of the cytoplasm.If mice were fed “Gan FuKang”before CCl_4 injection,most hepatic parenchy-mal cells remained normal although some wereslightly damaged,such as a number which contennedvacuoles.Since “Gan Fu Kang”reduces the injuryof liver cells caused by CCl_4,it may be a usefulmedicine in protecting liver cells.