title: Protective mechanism of salvia miltiorrhiza on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanisms of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Sm) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. Male Wistar rats received a single dose of CCl(4) (2 ml/kg in corn oil, intraperitoneally). Three hours after CCl(4) intoxication, rats received either Sm (100 mg/kg) or silymarin (100 mg/kg) by gastrogavage twice a day for 2 consecutive days. CCl(4)-induced liver damage was shown by significant elevation of serum aminotransferase levels. Additionally, a significant decrease was observed in hepatic microsomal P450 2E1 protein content and hepatic concentrations of antioxidant enzymes. In contrast, rats given both Sm and silymarin supplement had less elevation of serum aminotransferase concentrations associated with less severe lobular damage of hepatocytes than rats receiving CCl(4) alone. Sm administration restored the reduction of hepatic microsomal P450 2E1 protein content as well as inducing an increase in hepatic glutathione concentration. On the other hand, administration of silymarin resulted in an elevation of hepatic superoxide dismutase levels. Moreover, both Sm and silymarin treatment inhibited the elevation of hepatic inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) protein content and nitrite concentration in liver homogenate 24 h after CCl(4) intoxication. We concluded that administration of Sm is effective in amelioration of CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity. This effect may be due to its ability to decrease the metabolic activation of CCl(4) by an increase in P450 2E1 protein content and its antioxidant activity associated with less increase in hepatic iNOS protein content.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzung-Yan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Lee-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Guei-Jane
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jen-Hwey
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yun-Lian
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Han-Chieh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D012838:Silymarin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012838:Silymarin; D002374:Catalase; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione