Evaluation of hepatoprotective effect of Zhi-Zi-Da-Huang decoction and its two fractions against acute alcohol-induced liver injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Zhi-Zi-Da-Huang decoction (ZZDHD) and its two fractions (one is extracted with diethyl ether as a solvent from the water extract and is called ZD-DE for short, the other is the remained aqueous fraction after extracted with diethyl ether and is abbreviated as ZD-AQ) against acute alcohol-induced liver injury in rats.


METHODS
Animals were administered orally with alcohol 6g/kg at 2h after the doses of ZZDHD and two fractions everyday for eight consecutive days except rats in normal group. The protective effect was evaluated by biochemical parameters including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The biochemical observations were supplemented by histopathological examination. HPLC-UV was used for phytochemical analysis of the ZZDHD and its two fractions.


RESULTS
The high dose of ZZDHD exhibited a significant protective effect by reversing the biochemical parameters and histopathological changes. ZD-DE and ZD-AQ demonstrated different protective action in biochemical examination. Partly assayed indexes were ameliorated after administrated the media dose of ZZDHD. HPLC analysis indicated that ZZDHD contained flavonoids, anthraquinones and iridoids, which might be the active chemicals.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated the hepatoprotective activity of ZZDHD thus scientifically supported the usage of this formula.
Wang
Hang
H
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Feng
Fang
F
Zhuang
Bo-Yang
BY
Sun
Ya
Y
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000438:Alcohols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D039823:Iridoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000438:Alcohols; D000880:Anthraquinones; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D039823:Iridoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione