Treatment of chronic liver injuries in mice by oral administration of ethanolic extract of the fruit of Hovenia dulcis.
The present study examined the effects of an ethanolic extract of the fruit of Hovenia dulcis (EHD) on chronic hepatitis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) in mice. CCl(4) (5%; 0.1 ml/10 g body weight) was given twice a week for 9 weeks, and mice received EHD throughout the entire experimental period. Plasma activities of GPT and GOT, and hepatic levels of malondialdehyde were significantly lowered in mice treated with EHD as compared to mice treated with CCl(4) only. Histological evaluation showed that EHD could attenuate the liver fibrosis and necrosis caused by CCl(4). RT-qPCR analysis also showed that EHD treatment decreased hepatic collagen (alpha1)(I) and collagen (alpha1)(III) mRNA expressions. Chronic CCl(4) treatment caused liver injuries in mice, characterized by an increase in hepatic methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) 2A gene expression, and decreased MAT1A gene expression. EHD significantly reduced the changes in MAT gene expression due to the chronic CCl(4) treatment. These results clearly demonstrate that the EHD can reduce hepatic injuries in mice induced by CCl(4).
Fang
Hsun-Lang
HL
Graduate Institute of Chinese Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Lin
Hui-Yi
HY
Chan
Ming-Che
MC
Lin
Wei-Lii
WL
Lin
Wen-Chuan
WC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D024443:Aspartate Aminotransferase, Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D056487:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008716:Methionine Adenosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D027823:Rhamnaceae
D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D008716:Methionine Adenosyltransferase; D024443:Aspartate Aminotransferase, Cytoplasmic; D006909:Hydroxyproline