Hepatoprotective effects of Chai-Hu-Ching-Kan-Tang on acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in rats.
Chai-Hu-Ching-Kan-Tang (CHCKT) is one of the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions commonly used to treat liver diseases. In this study, we evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of aqueous CHCKT extract at various concentrations (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury in rats. Results showed that CHCKT treatments significantly decreased the level of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (sGOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (sGPT) in APAP-treated groups. CHCKT also significantly decreased the level of lipid peroxides and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes (i.e. SOD and GPx). Histopathological observation further confirmed the hepatoprotective activity of CHCKT as indicated by the amelioration in the central necrosis and fatty changes of the liver after APAP induction. Interestingly, the hepatoprotective activity of CHCKT at concentrations 125~500 mg/kg appeared to be as good as 12.5 mg/kg silymarin (a commercial hepatoprotective agent). Taken together, these results suggest that aqueous extract of CHCKT possesses potent hepatoprotective effects agianst APAP-induced liver injury in rats.
Lin
Tzu-Hsiang
TH
Graduate Institute of Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
Ng
Lean-Teik
LT
Yen
Feng-Lin
FL
Lin
Chun-Ching
CC
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; C519022:chai-hu-ching-kan-tang; D000082:Acetaminophen; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase