title: Comparative Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activities of Geniposide, Crocins and Crocetin by CCl4-Induced liver Injury in Mice.
abstract: Iridoid glycosides (mainly geniposide) and crocetin derivatives (crocins) are the two major active constituents in Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. In the present study, geniposide, crocins, crocin-1 and crocetin were separated from gardenia chromatographically. Then, mice were orally administrated with geniposide (400 mg/kg b.w.), crocins (400 mg/kg b.w.), crocin-1 (400 mg/kg b.w.) and crocetin (140 mg/kg b.w.) once daily for 7 days with CCl4. Hepatoprotective properties were evaluated by biochemical parameters: Administration of geniposide, crocins, crocin-1and crocetin significantlylowered serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in CCl4-treated mice. The reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) activities were also increased by geniposide, crocins, crocin-1 and crocetin. Histopathological examination of livers showed that these components reduced deformability, irregular arrangement and rupture of hepatocyte in CCl4-treated mice. These biochemical results and liver histopathological assessment demonstrated that geniposide, crocetin derivatives and crocetin show comparative beneficialeffects on CCl4-induced liver damage via induction of antioxidant defense. Therefore, contents of geniposide and crocetin derivatives should be both considered for hepatoprotective efficacyof Gardenia jasminoides Ellis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.|Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai Guangdong 519041, PR China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai Guangdong 519041, PR China.
authors.forename: Yarong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai Guangdong 519041, PR China.
authors.forename: Shining
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of English, Zunyi Medical University Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai Guangdong 519041, PR China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Crocetin; Crocin-1; Gardenia jasminoides Ellis; Geniposide; Hepatoprotective; Histopathological examination