Protective effect of fufanghuangqiduogan against acute liver injury in mice.
OBJECTIVE
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) intraperitoneally 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-alpha (TNF-alpha) 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-alpha and IL-1 in serum. Histologic examination showed that FFHQ could attenuate the area and extent of necrosis, reduce the immigration of inflammatory cells.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Gui
Shuang-Ying
SY
Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China.
Wei
Wei
W
Wang
Hua
H
Wu
Li
L
Sun
Wu-Yi
WY
Wu
Cheng-Yi
CY
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride