title: Evaluation of kudzu root extract-induced hepatotoxicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kudzu root, the root of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, has been used as food and medicine for centuries, but few studies indicate that kudzu root may cause liver damage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We studied the hepatotoxicity of kudzu root extract in mice, HepG2 cells and mice hepatocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were administrated with kudzu root extract (10mg/day) for 4 weeks, and then the biochemical analysis and histopathological changes were carried out. To explore the potential mechanism by which kudzu root extract-induced hepatotoxicity, HepG2 cells and mice hepatocytes were co-cultured with kudzu root extract or puerarin, which is a kudzu root isoflavone, for 2h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The increase of serum ALT and AST and histopathological changes in treated mice revealed that kudzu root extract was hepatotoxic. The increase of LDH leakage for HepG2 cells and mice hepatocytes further confirmed hepatotoxicity of kudzu root extract. Kudzu root extract and puerarin significantly up-regulated Mt1 mRNA involved in the acute phase response and Bax which is crucial for apoptosis. Gclc, Nrf2 and Ho-1 mRNA expressions did not change in treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kudzu root extract may be hepatotoxic and caution may be required for its use.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China.
authors.forename: Dengyuan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Jiangxi OAI Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China. Electronic address: ziwu211@126.com.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000633:toxicity; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D018517:Plant Roots; D029908:Pueraria; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics; D000097587:Sterol O-Acyltransferase 2
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D007529:Isoflavones; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D000097587:Sterol O-Acyltransferase 2; C033607:puerarin
keywords: HepG2 cells; Hepatotoxicity; Kudzu root extract; Mice; Mice hepatocytes; Puerarin