Protective effects of Wu-Ling-Shen (Xylaria nigripes) on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.
Wu-Ling-Shen, a lesser study medicinal fungus (Xylaria nigripes), is popular for treating insomnia and trauma in the traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, our aim was to examine the protective effects of X. nigripes extract on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute hepatotoxicity in mice, and its content of polyphenolic constituents. The X. nigripes aqueous extract (XN-T) at 500 and 1000 mg/kg was given intragastrically to mice for 9 consecutive days, followed by receiving subcutaneously 2 mL/kg of 40% CCl(4) in olive oil to induce hepatotoxicity. Blood and liver tissues were collected for biochemical and histological analyses. Analysis of polyphenolic compounds was performed by RP-HPLC. Results showed that XN-T at 500 and 1000 mg/kg significantly prevented the elevation of serum glutamate oxalate transaminase (sGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (sGPT), and liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and caused an increase in the liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) concentrations, as well as serum total antioxidant activity in the CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicated mice. It was as good as silymarin (100 mg/kg) in normalization of oxidative stress parameters. Furthermore, liver histological observation also showed an obvious amelioration in the liver conditions in XN-T-treated animals. XN-T was found to contain a higher level of epicatechin, catechin, and p-coumaric acid. These results conclude that XN exerts effective protection against CCl(4)-induced liver injury in mice, and its mechanism of action could be through the effects of antioxidants on reducing the oxidative stress.
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Mycology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Airong
A
Song
Huey-Jiun
HJ
Ko
Min-Nan
MN
Lai
Lean-Teik
LT
Ng
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011422:Propionates; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D013098:Xylariales / Q000737:chemistry*
D000975:Antioxidants; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011422:Propionates; D012838:Silymarin; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002392:Catechin; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C495469:p-coumaric acid