Abstract
Bupleuri Radix (BR), the dried roots of Bupleurum falcatum L., has been used in folk medicine as an antiinflammatory and antioxidative agent. The aqueous extract of BR was evaluated for its possible ameliorative effect in the regulation of hyperthyroidism in l-thyroxine- (LT4-) induced rat model. After oral administration of 300, 150, and 75 mg/kg of BR extracts, once a day for 15 days from 12th LT4 treatments, changes on the body, thyroid gland, liver, and epididymal fat pad weights, serum triiodothyronine, thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, asparte aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations, hepatic lipid peroxidation, glutathione contents, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities were investigated with thyroid gland, liver, and epididymal fat histopathological changes. The effects of BR extracts were compared with that of propylthiouracil, a standard antithyroid drug 10 mg/kg (intraperitoneally). In this experiment, BR extracts dose dependently reversed LT4-induced hyperthyroidisms, and these effects indicating their potential in the regulation of hyperthyroidism. Further, the BR extract normalized LT4-induced liver oxidative stresses, and also reduced liver and epididymal fat pad changes. BR extracts 150 mg/kg showed comparable effects on the LT4-induced rat hyperthyroidism as compared with PTU 10 mg/kg. These effects of BR may help the improvement of hyperthyroidisms and accompanied various organ damages.
Highlights
Thyroid hormones play an important role in development, metabolism, thermoregulation, and growth [1]
Bupleuri Radix (BR) extracts 150 mg/kg showed comparable effects on the LT4-induced rat hyperthyroidism as compared with PTU 10 mg/kg. These effects of BR may help the improvement of hyperthyroidisms and accompanied various organ damages
BR extracts enhanced the liver antioxidant defense systems—they dose-dependently inhibited LT4induced increases of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and changes on the GSH contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activities. These findings are considered as direct evidences that they have favorable ameliorating effect on the hyperthyroidisms and related organ damages induced by LT4 through antioxidant effects
Summary
Thyroid hormones play an important role in development, metabolism, thermoregulation, and growth [1]. Alterations in the level of these hormones lead to altered basal metabolic rate and to many health problems. Hyperthyroidism leads to oxidative damage of liver [5], osteoporosis [6], heart failure [7] and increased risk of heart attack [8]. Hyperthyroid state is accompanied with an increase in prooxidant to antioxidants ratio, that promotes accumulation of oxidatively damaged molecules which leads to oxidative stress [9]. Among them liver is a major target organ for thyroid hormone with important biological and medical implications [10], and the atrophic changes and decreases of body fat masses were accompanied with body
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