title: Hepatoprotective effects of Taiwan folk medicine: wedelia chinensis on three hepatotoxin-induced hepatotoxicity.
abstract: The hepatoprotective effects of a Taiwanese crude herb, Hwang-hua-mih-tsay (Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr.), were investigated. Acute hepatitis was induced by three hepatotoxins: carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen in mice, and D(+)-galactosamine in rats. After treatment with W. chinensis (300 mg/kg, p.o.) at 2, 6 and 10 hours, a reduction in the elevation of serum glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and glutamate pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels was observed at 24 hrs after hepatotoxins were administered. These serological observations were confirmed by histopathological examinations. A microscopic examination of the liver showed a marked improvement in groups receiving W. chinensis. In order to further confirm the hepatoprotective effect of W. chinensis, all pharmacological and histopathological effects were compared with Bupleurum chinense DC. (family Umbelliferae), a well documented antihepatotoxicity herb. It was concluded that W. chinensis has a definite hepatoprotective effect against liver injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Taipei Medical College, Taiwan.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shyuu
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity; D000208:Acute Disease; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005688:Galactosamine / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000082:Acetaminophen; D005688:Galactosamine; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase