Efficient hepatoprotective activity of cranberry extract against CCl_4-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rat model: Down-regulation of liver enzymes and strong antioxidant activity

Objective: To investigate the hepatoprotective efficacy of cranberry extract(CBE)against carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced hepatic injury using in-vivo animal model.Methods: The hepatoprotective efficacy of CBE(200 and 400 mg/kg) was investigated against CCl4(4 m L/kg)-induced hepatotoxicity, elevated liver enzymes [ALT(alanine aminotransferase), AST(aspartate aminotransferase), and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)],and total protein(TP) contents in the serum. Moreover, CBE-aided antioxidant defense against hepatotoxic insult of CCl4 was measured by evaluating a number of anti-oxidative biomarkers including reduced glutathione(GSH), superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), and malondialdehyde(MDA) in the serum by using spectrophotometric analyses.Results: Results showed that the exposure of experimental animals to CCl4 did induce significant hepatotoxicity compared to the non-induced(untreated) group. The oral administration of CBE demonstrated a significant dose-dependent alleviation in the liver enzymes(AST, ALT, and ALP), increased antioxidant defense(GSH, SOD, and CAT),and reduced MDA levels in the serum of treated animals compared to the animals without treatment. The resulting data showed that the administration of CBE decreased the serum levels of ALT, AST, and ALP compared to the CCl4-induced group.Conclusions: The resulting data evidenced that CBE exhibits promising hepatoprotective potential against the chemical induced hepatotoxicity, maintains homeostasis in liver enzymes, and can provide significant antioxidant defense against free radicals-induced oxidative stress.     

The protective role of Hepatopoietin Cn on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats*

Background: Hepatopoietin Cn (HPPCn) is a member of the leucine‐rich acidic nuclear protein family (LANP), and studies of partially hepatectomized (PH) mice show that levels of HPPCn mRNA increase following liver injury. Furthermore, the recombinant human protein (rhHPPCn) was shown to stimulate hepatic DNA synthesis and activate signaling pathways involved in hepatocyte proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the protective effect of rhHPPCn on liver injury and fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) injection. Methods: Wistar rats weighing 200 g were given a single and repeated intraperitoneal injections of CCl4. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in rat serum were measured using biochemical assay. Hepatic hydroxyproline (Hyp) level was determined in the hydrolysates of liver samples. Immunostaining and Masson's trichrome staining were conducted to evaluate hepatocyte proliferation and fibrosis. Results: The results showed that exogenous rhHPPCn could alleviate hepatocyte necrosis and protect the liver from the development of fibrotic lesions by proliferation stimulation. Additionally, HPPCn could reduce ALT/AST levels in rat serum following single and repeated CCl4 injection. Conclusion: It was suggested that HPPCn could protect hepatocytes from injury induced by CCl4 as a proliferation stimulator.     

Effect of naked eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding rat augmenter of liver regeneration on acute hepatic injury and hepatic failure in rats

AIM: To study the protective effect of eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) on acute hepatic injury and hepatic failure in rats. METHODS: The PCR-amplified ALR gene was recombined with pcDNA3 plasmid, and used to treat rats with acute hepatic injury. The rats with acute hepatic injury induced by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mL/kg 50% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) were randomly divided into saline control group and recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid treatment groups. Recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid DNA (50 or 200 μg/kg) was injected into the rats with acute hepatic injury intraven ously, intraperitoneally, or intravenously and intraperitoneally in combination 4 h after CCl4 administration, respectively. The recombinant plasmid was injected once per 12 h into all treatment groups four times, and the rats were decapitated 12 h after the last injection. Hepatic histopathological alterations were observed after HE staining, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining, and the level of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was determined by biochemical method. The recombinant plasmid DNA (200 μg/kg) and saline were intraperitoneally injected into the rats with acute hepatic failure induced by intraperitoneal injection of 4 mL/kg 50% CCl4 after 4 h of CCl4 administration, respectively. Rats living over 96 h were considered as survivals. RESULTS: The sequence of ALR cDNA of recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid was accordant with the reported sequence of rat ALR cDNA. After the rats with acute hepatic injury were treated with recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid, the degree of liver histopathological injury markedly decreased. The pathologic liver tissues, in which hepatic degeneration and necrosis of a small amount of hepatocytes and a large amount of infiltrating inflammatory cells were observed, and they became basically normal in the most effective group after four times of injection of recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid. The indexes of PCNA significantly increased in the recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid treatment groups compared to model group. The level of serum AST and ALT remarkably reduced in recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid treatment groups compared to model group. The results showed that the effect of 200 μg/kg recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid in the rats with acute liver injury was stronger than that of 50 μg/kg pcDNA3-ALR DNA. The effect of intravenous injection of recombinant pcDNA3 ALR plasmid was better. After the rats with acute hepatic failure were treated with recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid, the survival rate (40%) significantly increased in treatment groups compared to control group (15%, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The ALR gene may play an important role in relieving acute hepatic injury and hepatic failure by promoting hepatic cell proliferation and reducing level of AST and ALT in CCl4-intoxicated rats.     

Mechanism of protective action of bicyclol against CCl-induced liver injury in mice.

Bicyclol is a novel synthetic drug for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis in China. This paper reports the protective action of bicyclol against experimental liver injury in mice and its mechanism of action. Oral administration of bicyclol markedly reduced the elevated serum transaminases (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)) and the hepatic morphologic changes induced by CCl(4) in mice. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that bicyclol significantly inhibited CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation of liver microsomes and (14)CCl(4) covalent binding to microsomal lipids and proteins in vitro, and decreased the level of the trichloromethyl free radical (*CCl(3)) generated from CCl(4) metabolism by NADPH-reduced liver microsomes. On the other hand, bicyclol neither directly inhibited the activity of ALT or AST in vitro nor affected hepatic ALT protein content in mice. These results suggest that bicyclol has remarkable hepatoprotective effects and its mechanism of action may be related to a decrease in free radical-induced damage to hepatocytes.     

医用三氧与中药对醋氨酚犬中毒性肝炎的保护作用

目的:探讨中药护肝方与医用三氧对醋氨酚犬急性中毒性肝衰竭的预防性保护作用.方法:健康杂种犬18只,随机平均分为模型对照组,中药预处理组和医用三氧预处理组.处理15 d后各组均进行醋氨酚皮下注射,分别于注射前、注射后24,48,72,96 h及7,14 d抽血检测肝功能、凝血酶原时间(PT)、血氨(AMMO)、尿素氮(BUN),观察记录全身情况,实验狗死亡时或治疗后存活14 d时取肝组织做病理观察.结果:与模型对照组相比,中药组和三氧组的肝组织病理变化程度轻、病灶范围小,肝细胞气球样变和脂肪变性明显.三氧组与中药组谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、总胆红素(TBIL)、AMMO、PT均显著低于模型对照组(P＜0.05或0.01),并且三氧组与中药组相比也有显著差异(P＜0.05或0.01).结论:中药护肝方与医用三氧的预防性给药能够有效减轻醋氨酚所致犬急性中毒性肝损害,降低血氨和缩短PT,且医用三氧效果优于护肝方.     

Melatonin ameliorates experimental hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

AIM： To investigate the protective effects of melatonin on carbon tetrachloride （CCl4）-induced hepatic fibrosis in experimental rats.
METHODS： All rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group treated with CCl4 for 12 wk, CCl4 ＋ NAC group treated with CCl4 ＋ NAC （100 mg/kg, i.p.） for 12 wk, CCl4 ＋ MEL-1 group treated with CCl4 ＋ melatonin （2.5 mg/kg） for 12 wk, CCl4 ＋ MEL-2 group treated with CCl4 ＋ melatonin （5.0 mg/kg） for 12 wk, and CCl4 ＋ MEL-3 group treated with CCl4 ＋ melatonin （10 mg/kg）. Rats in the treatment groups were injected subcutaneously with sterile CCl4 （3 mL/kg, body weight） in a ratio of 2：3 with olive oil twice a week. Rats in normal control group received hypodermic injection of olive oil at the same dose and frequency as those in treatment groups. At the end of experiment, rats in each group were anesthetized and sacrificed. Hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining and Van Gieson staining were used to examine changes in liver pathology. Serum activities of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）, aspartate aminotransferase （AST） and protein concentration weremeasured with routine laboratory methods using an autoanalyzer. Hydroxyproline （HYP） content in liver and malondialdehyde （MDA） and glutathione peroxidase （GPx） levels in liver homogenates were assayed by spectrophotometry. Serum hyaluronic acid （HA）, laminin （LN）, and procollagen Ⅲ N-terminal peptide （PⅢNP） were determined by radioimmunoassay.
RESULTS： Pathologic grading showed that the fibrogenesis was much less severe in CCl4 ＋ MEL3 group than in model control group （u = 2.172, P 〈 0.05）, indicating that melatonin （10 mg/kg） can significantly ameliorate CCl4-induced hepatic fibrotic changes. The serum levels of ALT and AST were markedly lower in CCl4 ＋ MEL treatment groups （5, 10 mg/kg） than in model control group （ALT： 286.23 ± 121.91 U/L vs 201.15 ± 101.16 U/L and 178.67 ± 103.14 U/L, P = 0.028, P = 0.007; AST： 431.00 ± 166.35 U/L vs 321.23 ± 162.48 U/L and 292.42 ± 126.23 U/L, P = 0.043, P = 0.013）. Similarly, the serum laminin （LN） and hyaluronic acid （HA） levels and hydroxyproline （HYP） contents in liver were significantly lower in CCl4 ＋ MEL-3 group （10 mg/kg） than in model control group （LN： 45.89 ± 11.71 μg/L vs 55.26 ± 12.30 μg/L, P = 0.012; HA： 135.71±76.03 μg/L vs 201.10 ± 68.46 μg/L, P = 0.020; HYP： 0.42 ± 0.08 mg/g tissue vs 0.51 ± 0.07 mg/g tissue, P = 0.012）. Moreover, treatment with melatonin （5, 10 mg/kg） significantly reduced the MDA content and increased the GPx activity in liver homogenates compared with model control group （MDA： 7.89 ± 1.49 noml/mg prot vs 6.29 ±1.42 noml/mg prot and 6.25 ±2.27 noml/mg prot, respectively, P = 0.015, P = 0.015; GPx： 49.13 ±8.72 U/mg prot vs 57.38 ±7.65 U/mg prot and 61.39 ±13.15 U/mg prot, respectively, P = 0.035, P = 0.003）.
CONCLUSION： Melatonin can ameliorate CCl4 -induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. The protective effect of melatonin on hepatic fibrosis may be related to its antioxidant activities,     

Protective effect of non-mitogenic human acidic fibroblast growth factor on hepatocyte injury

Aim: To study whether non-mitogenic human acidic fibroblast growth factor (nm-haFGF) has protective effects on H(2)O(2)-induced hepatocyte injury in vitro and CCl(4)-induced hepatocyte injury in vivo. Methods: (i) HL-7702 hepatocytes were incubated with different concentrations of nm-haFGF for 12 h, and then the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in culture medium was detected, and genomic DNA electrophoresis analysis was observed after being exposed to H(2)O(2) (8 mmol/L) for 4 h. Proximately, apoptotic rates and protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax of HL-7702 cell were detected after being exposed to H(2)O(2) (0.2 mmol/L) for 20 h. (ii) Being injected intraperitoneally with nm-haFGF, mice were treated with CCl(4) intraperitoneally to induce hepatic injury. Twenty-four hours later, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured and histopathologic changes were evaluated. Results: (i) In vitro tests: LDH activities and apoptotic rates decreased, the protein expression of Bcl-2 increased and Baxdecreased in nm-haFGF-treated groups at the concentrations of 100 150 and 200 ng/mL, compared with that in the model control group, which was treated with H(2)O(2) alone. The genomic DNA remained nearly intact at the concentrations of 150 and 200 ng/mL. (ii) In vivo tests: serum ALT and AST in nm-haFGF-treated groups (10 mug/kg and 20 mug/kg) were much lower as compared to the model control group, which was treated with CCl(4) alone. Histological examination showed that nm-haFGF markedly ameliorated hepatocytes vacuolation, cloudy swelling and inflammatory cells infiltration induced by CCl(4). Conclusion: nm-haFGF had protective effects against H(2)O(2)-induced hepatocyte injury in vitro and CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury in vivo.     

Protective effect of fufanghuangqiduogan against acute liver injury in mice

AIM: To study the effects and possible mechanisms of fufanghuangqiduogan (FFHQ) in mice with acute liver injury (ALI). METHODS: ALI was successfully induced by injecting carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intra peritoneally and by tail vein injection of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice, respectively. Each of the two model groups was divided into normal group, model group, FFHQ (60, 120 and 240 mg/kg) treatment groups, and bifendate treatment group. At the end of the experiment, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), content of malondialdehyde (MDA), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) in liver homogenate were measured by biochemical methods. The activities of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were determined by radio-immunoassay. Hepatic tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined under a light microscope. RESULTS: In the two models of ALI, FFHQ (60, 120, 240 mg/kg) was found to significantly decrease the serum transaminase (ALT, AST) activities. Meanwhile, FFHQ decreased MDA contents and upregulated the lower SOD and GSH-px levels in liver homogenate. Furthermore, in immunologic liver injury model, FFHQ decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-1 in serum. Histologic examination showed that FFHQ could attenuate the area and extent of necrosis, reduce the immigration of inflammatory cells. CONCLUSION: FFHQ had protective effect on liver injury induced by either CCl4 or BCG+LPS in mice, and its mechanisms were related to free radical scavenging, increasing SOD and GSH-px activities and inhibiting the production of proinflammatory mediators.     

蓝莓下调Toll样受体4表达减轻肝损伤的作用机制

目的研究蓝莓对Toll样受体4(TLR4)表达的调节,进一步探讨其在急性肝损伤中的作用。方法 48只SD大鼠随机分为空白对照组(对照组)、CCl4急性肝损伤组(模型组)、蓝莓低剂量组、蓝莓高剂量组和胸腺肽组。蓝莓低剂量组、蓝莓高剂量组造模开始前先分别给予蓝莓果汁(0.5 ml/100 g、1.0 ml/100 g)灌胃7 d。实验结束时测定肝脏指数、血清ALT、AST含量,WesternBlot检测肝组织TLR4蛋白表达量。结果模型组大鼠的肝脏指数、血清ALT、AST含量(0.047 30±0.002 85、4536.00±535.39,7959.33±108.89)高于对照组(0.031 90±0.002 87,48.00±5.57,137.00±12.53)(P<0.05);蓝莓低、高剂量组上述指标(0.040 80±0.003 77,0.040 80±0.003 81;2138.00±980.32,4049.67±466.01;1247.00±609.00,2063.33±1357.32)均低于模型组,模型组肝组织TLR4蛋白表达量(1.392±0.204)显著高于对照组(0.781±0.132)(P<0.05)。蓝莓低剂量组、高剂量组和胸腺肽组大鼠肝组织TLR4蛋白表达量(1.273±0.203,1.110±0.168,0.943±0.161)低于模型组(1.392±0.204)(P<0.05)。结论蓝莓可能通过下调肝组织中TLR4的表达,起到减轻急性肝损伤的作用。     

绞股蓝总皂苷对四氯化碳诱导大鼠肝纤维化的防治作用

目的:观察绞股蓝总皂苷对四氯化碳( CCl4)诱导的大鼠肝纤维化的防治作用.方法:采用CCl4诱导的大鼠肝纤维化模型,分为正常组(Z,n=6)、模型组(M,n=8)、绞股蓝总皂苷组(J,n=8)、秋水仙碱(Q,n=8).造模6周末开始给药(股蓝总皂苷200mg/kg体重、秋水仙碱0.1mg/kg体重),给药3周.观察:①大鼠体重、肝脾比值的变化;②血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、谷氨酰转肽酶(GGT)活性、白蛋白( Alb)、总胆红素(TBil)含量、肝组织羟脯氨酸(Hyp)含量;③肝组织超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性及丙二醛(MDA)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)含量;④肝组织病理及胶原沉积情况.结果:①M组大鼠血清ALT、AST、GGT、TBil显著升高,Alb显著降低;J和Q组大鼠血清ALT、AST、GGT、TBil显著下降,Alb显著升高;②M组大鼠肝组织Hyp含量显著升高,J组及Q组大鼠肝组织Hyp含量显著下降;③肝组织HE染色显示:M组大鼠肝细胞脂肪变性,大量纤维结缔组织增生,假小叶形成.J组及Q组大鼠肝细胞脂肪变性减轻,纤维增生减少,少见完整假小叶结构.天狼星红染色显示:M组大鼠肝窦周胶原沉积明显,形成较厚汇管区和中央静脉间的纤维间隔,J组和Q组大鼠肝脏汇管区胶原纤维染较M组明显减轻;④M组大鼠肝组织SOD活性及GSH含量明显降低,MDA含量显著升高.J组大鼠肝组织SOD活性显著提高.结论:绞股蓝总皂苷具有显著抗CCl4诱导的大鼠肝纤维化及氧化损伤的作用.     

The effect of the oral iron chelator deferiprone on the liver damage induced by tamoxifen in female rats

Tamoxifen (TAM) is a non-steroidal antiestrogen used in the treatment and prevention of hormone-dependent breast cancer. Tamoxifen therapy may be accompanied with hepatic injury and iron accumulation in this organ. The present study investigates the influence of the effective oral iron chelator, deferiprone (L1), in TAM-induced acute liver injury. Four groups of female Wistar rats were used: I, control; II, TAM; III, TAM+L1; IV, L1. Tamoxifen (75 mg/kg) was administered orally on the first and second day; L1 (50 mg/kg) was administered orally on the first, second and third day of the experiment. On the fourth day, parameters of oxidative state: lipid peroxidation (LP), glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were estimated in liver homogenates. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) levels and iron hepatic content were also evaluated. The TAM-induced oxidative damage was demonstrated by increased LP (52% above controls) and decreased GPx activity (to 92% of controls). The protective effect of L1 was manifested by attenuation of LP (p <0.05) and preserving of GPx activity. The TAM-induced increase of serum ALT and AST activity remained unchanged by L1 treatment. Significant increase of hepatic iron (Fe) level (41% above controls) was found in TAM-treated rats. Hepatic Fe accumulation was completely prevented by L1 treatment.     

内质网及氧化应激在大鼠慢性肝损伤中的变化

目的研究内质网应激相关基因、氧化应激指标在四氯化碳诱导的大鼠慢性肝损伤中的变化。方法四氯化碳制备大鼠慢性肝损伤模型,通过测定大鼠血清ALT、AST水平,采用HE染色和TUNEL法观察肝组织病理形态和肝细胞凋亡改变,评价成模效果。检测大鼠肝脏葡萄糖调节蛋白78（GRP78）、GRP94、血红素加氧酶（HO）-1 mRNA表达及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、丙二醛（MDA）、还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）变化。结果四氯化碳成功诱导了大鼠慢性肝损伤,与对照组相比,大鼠肝脏GRP78、GRP94、HO—1的表达量、MDA含量均明显增加,SOD活性、还原型GSH显著降低。结论四氯化碳诱导大鼠慢性肝损伤时,内质网应激相关基因的表达增加,氧化应激指标亦发生改变,表明内质网应激、氧化应激共同参与了大鼠慢性肝损伤过程。     

蓝莓预防大鼠肝损伤实验研究

目的探讨蓝莓对四氯化碳（CCl4）所致大鼠急性肝损伤的预防保护作用。方法SD大鼠随机分为蓝莓汁低、高两个剂量预防组、齐墩果酸阳性药对照组、正常对照组及模型组,采用CCl4致大鼠急性肝损伤模型。测定大鼠血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）以及肝组织匀浆超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）及丙二醛（MDA）,光镜下观察肝脏病理变化。结果蓝莓各剂量组及阳性对照组血清ALT及AST均明显低于模型组（P〈0．01）。与模型组比较,齐墩果酸组、蓝莓汁高剂量组肝匀浆GSH、SOD、CAT明显升高,MDA明显降低（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）;蓝莓汁低剂量组肝匀浆GSH升高不明显,肝匀浆SOD、CAT升高,MDA降低（P〈0．05）。结论蓝莓对CCl4所致大鼠急性肝损伤具有良好的预防保护作用,其机制可能与抗脂质过氧化作用有关。     

四氯化碳诱导小鼠急性肝损伤模型的建立和优化

目的通过单次腹腔注射不同剂量的四氯化碳(CCl4)致小鼠急性肝损伤,检测小鼠血浆转氨酶水平的变化,建立适合本研究的小鼠模型。方法采用6~8周龄雄性C57BL/6小鼠单次腹腔注射CCl4诱导急性肝损伤。比较不同剂量的CCl4诱导急性肝损伤小鼠的血浆转氨酶水平。将182只小鼠随机分出32只。32只小鼠随机分为3组CCl4实验组(每组8只)和正常对照组(8只),分别腹腔注射0.1%、0.2%、0.3%的CCl4橄榄油溶液(10 ml/kg)或等体积橄榄油。注射12小时后取血,检测血浆丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)的水平。比较0.1%和0.2%剂量组小鼠不同时间点血浆转氨酶水平的变化。将剩余150只小鼠随机分为正常对照组(10只)、实验Ⅰ组(0.1%剂量,70只)、实验Ⅱ组(0.2%剂量,70只),实验组小鼠在造模6、12、16、20、24、48、72小时后取血,检测血浆ALT、AST的水平。结果与正常对照组相比,分别用0.1%、0.2%、0.3%CCl4处理后12小时小鼠血浆ALT、AST均明显升高(P0.05),并呈剂量依赖性。与正常对照组相比,0.1%和0.2%剂量组小鼠血浆ALT、AST的水平在早期均呈上升趋势,并分别在16小时和20小时达到高峰,随后逐渐下降,在72小时接近至正常水平。结论单次腹腔注射CCl4诱导小鼠急性肝损伤呈剂量依赖性。0.1%剂量的CCl4以及该剂量处理后16小时是建立C57BL/6小鼠急性轻度肝损伤的合适剂量与检测转氨酶水平的合适时间点。     

Protective effects of 5,4''-dihydroxy-3'',5''- dimethoxy-7-O-β-D -glucopyranosyloxy-flavone on experimental hepatic injury

AIM: To investigate the pharmacological effects of rice flavone (5,4'-dihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-flavone, RF) separated from panicledifferentiating to flowing rice on rat experimental hepatic injury.METHODS: Models of rat acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration, rat hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide, injury of primary cultured rat hepatocytes induced by CCl4, respectively,were established. After treated with RF, content of serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and albumin (Alb), hyaluronic acid (HA), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and hydroxyproline (Hyp) were measured and liver tissue was observed pathologically by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Effects of RF on pathological changes,function index, enzyme of scavenging free radicals and blood rheology were evaluated.RESULTS: In model of rat acute hepatic injury induced by CCl4, RF can significantly decrease the contents of serum ALT, AST, increase the content of Alb, improve the dropsy and fat denaturalization of hepatocytes. In model of rat hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide,RF can inhibit the increase of HA, Hyp and whole blood viscosity, and improve the activities of GSH-Px and SOD,and inauricular microcirculation.CONCLUSION: RF has apparent protective effects on hepatic injury by increasing activity of GSH-Px and SOD,scavenging free radicals produced by CCl4, reducing blood viscosity, and improving microcirculation and blood supply.     

In vitro and in vivo protective effects of proteoglycan isolated from mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury

AIM: To investigate the possible mechanism of the protective effects of a bioactive fraction,Ganoderma lucidum proteoglycan (GLPG) isolated from Ganoderma lucidum mycelia, against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury. METHODS: A liver injury model was induced by carbon tetrachloride. Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay.The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined with an automatic multifunction-biochemical analyzer and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD)and TNF-alpha were determined following the instructions of SOD kit and TNF radioimmunoassay kit. Liver sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) for histological evaluation and examined under light microscope. RESULTS: We found that GLPG can alleviate the L-02 liver cells injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) through the measurements of ALT and AST activities and the administration of GLPG to L-02 cells did not display any toxicity. Furthermore, histological analysis of mice liver injury induced by CCl4 with or without GLPG pretreatment indicated that GLPG can significantly suppress the toxicity induced by CCl4 in mice liver. We also found that GLPG reduced TNF-alpha level induced by CCl4 in the plasma of mice, whereas increased SOD activity in the rat serum. CONCLUSION: GLPG has hepatic protective activity against CCl4-induced injury both in vitro and in vivo. The possible anti-hepatotoxic mechanisms may be related to the suppression of TNF-alpha level and the free radical scavenging activity.     

Protective effects of 5,4′-dihydroxy-3.5′- dimethoxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-flavone on experimental hepatic injury

AIM: To investigate the pharmacological effects of rice flavone (5,4‘-dihydroxy-3‘,5‘-dimethoxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-flavone, RF) separated from panicle-differentiating to flowing rice on rat experimental hepatic injury. METHODS: Models of rat acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) administration, rat hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide, injury of primary cultured rat hepatocytes induced by CCI4, respectively, were established. After treated with RF, content of serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and albumin (AIb), hyaluronic acid (HA), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and hydroxyproline (Hyp) were measured and liver tissue was observed pathologically by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Effects of RF on pathological changes, function index, enzyme of scavenging free radicals and blood rheology were evaluated. RESULTS: In model of rat acute hepatic injury inducedby CCI4, RF can significantly decrease the contents of serum ALT, AST, increase the content of AIb, improve the dropsy and fat denaturalization of hepatocytes. In model of rat hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide, RF can inhibit the increase of HA, Hyp and whole blood viscosity, and improve the activities of GSH-Px and SOD, and inauricular microcirculation. CONCLUSION: RF has apparent protective effects onhepatic injury by increasing activity of GSH-Px and SOD, scavenging free radicals produced by CCI4, reducing blood viscosity, and improving microcirculation and blood supply.     

Protective role of standardized Feronia limonia stem bark methanolic extract against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity

Objective. This study evaluates hepatoprotective potential of Feronia limonia stem bark (FSB) extracts and fractions using experimental models.Materials and methods. Activity levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and cell viability were evaluated in HepG2 cells treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in presence or absence of FL extracts or fractions. Also, plasma markers of hepatic damage, hepatic antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and histopathological alterations were assessed in rats treated with CCl4 alone or in combination with 200 or 400 mg/kg bodyweight (BW) of FSB-7 or 25 mg/kg BW of silymarin.Results. In vitro co-supplementation of FSB extracts or fractions recorded varying degree of hepatoprotective potentials. Also, pre-supplementation of FSB methanolic extract (FSB-7) followed by CCl4 treatment significantly prevented hepatic damage and depletion of cellular antioxidants. Also, CCl4+ FSB-7 group showed minimal distortion in the histoarchitecture of liver and results were comparable to that of CCl4+ silymarin treated rats.Conclusion. This inventory is the first scientific report on hepatoprotective potential of FSB methanolic extract.