title: Du-Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) leaves inhibits CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats.
abstract: The protective effects of water extract of Du-Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) leaves (WEDZ) and its active compound (protocatechuic acid; PCA) on liver damage were evaluated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rats. Wistar rats were orally treated with WEDZ (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg bw) or PCA (0.1 g/kg bw) with administration of CCl4 (0.5 ml/rat, 20% CCl4 in olive oil) for 28 consecutive days. It showed that CCl4-treated rats increased the relative organ weights of liver and kidney. CCl4-induced rats liver damage and significantly (p<0.05) increased the GOT, GPT, LDH and ALP levels in serum as compared with the control group. Treatment with WEDZ or PCA could decrease the GOT, GPT, LDH and ALP levels in serum when compared with CCl4-treated group. CCl4-treated rats also significantly (p<0.05) decreased the GSH content in liver and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) in serum whereas increased (p<0.05) MDA content in liver as compared with the control group. Treatment with WEDZ or PCA also significantly (p<0.05) increased the GSH content and significantly (p<0.05) decreased the MDA content in liver. Administration of WEDZ or PCA could increase the activities of GPx, GRd and GST in liver. Liver histopathology showed that WEDZ or PCA reduced the incidence of liver lesions including hepatic cells cloudy swelling, lymphocytes infiltration, cytoplasmic vacuolization, hepatic necrosis and fibrous connective tissue proliferated induced by CCl4 in rats. The data suggest that oral administration with WEDZ for 28 consecutive days significantly decrease the intensity of hepatic damage induced by CCl4 in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuokuang Road, Taiching 402, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jen-Ai General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ming-Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Timothy Yu-Chi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Ping-Hsiao
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Chia-Pu
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gow-Chin
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D002839:Chromans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D031283:Eucommiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002839:Chromans; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D010936:Plant Extracts; C009091:protocatechuic acid; D005978:Glutathione; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid