The Effects of 10 Triterpenoid Compounds on Experimental Liver Injury in Mice

The purpose of this study was to compare the hepatoprotec tiveeffects of 10 oleanane-type triterpenoid compounds on threeknown hepatotoxicants in mice. These compounds in clude oleanolicacid, ursolic acid, uvaol, -hederin (-H), heder agenin, glycyrrhizin,18-glycyrrhetinic acid (-GA), 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid(ß-GA), 19-hydroxyl asiatic acid 28-O-ß-D-glucoside (HAG), and 19-hydroxyl asiatic acid (HA). They wereadministrated sc for 3 days at 200 µmol/kg, except for-H, which was given at 100 , imol/kg for 2 days. Acute liverinjury was produced in male CF-1 mice by CCI (15 µl/kg,ip), acetaminophen (500 mg/kg, ip), and cadmium chloride (3.7mg/kg, iv). Liver damage was assessed by serum activities ofalanine aminotransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, as wellas by his topathological examination. -Hedenn, ursolic acid,and olean olic acid markedly decreased the toxicity producedby all three hepatotoxicants. Uvaol significantly decreasedCd and Cd- induced hepatotoxicity, but had no effect on acetaminophentox icity. Glycyrrhizin, -GA, and ß-GA decreased acetaminopheninduced liver injury, whereas hederagenin, HAG, and HA did notprotect against any of the hepatotoxicants. In addition, -hederin,ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and uvaol increased hepatic metallothioneinlevels by 87-, 48-, 28-, and 1 0-fold, respectively, as determinedby the Cd/hemoglobin assay. In conclusion, among the 10 triterpenoidcompounds examined, -hederin, ur solic acid, and oleanolic acidappear to be the most effective in protecting against CCl_4-acetaminophen-, and Cd-induced liver injury.