Effect of ephedra water extract on liver injury induced by cisplatin

Abstract

Objective To study the effect of water extract of ephedra on hepatic injury induced by cisplatin in rats. Methods Forty rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, and ephedra water extract was divided into the low dose group, medium and high dose group. Ephedra water extract in the low, medium dose group, high dose group were 100, 200, 400 mg/kg. The normal saline of equal volume was used in the blank group and model group, once a day for 10 days. In addition to the blank group, the other groups were given cisplatin (8 mg/kg) on the 6th day to establish the model of liver injury in rats. The changes of body weight, serum ALT, AST and liver MDA, NO, SOD, GSH were detected by biochemical method. The pathological changes of liver tissue were observed by the staining. Results On the 3rd day and 5th day after administration of cisplatin, the body weight of the rats in the low, medium and high dose group were significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the serum AST (328.00 ± 168.00 U/L, 297.00 ± 139.00 U/L vs. 409.00 ± 364.00 U/L), ALT (122.00 ± 76.00 U/L, 97.00 ± 64.00 U/L vs. 198.00 ± 156.00 U/L) in the medium-, high- dose group significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The content of SOD (34.98 ± 7.40 U/mg, 41.80 ± 8.10 U/mg vs. 12.70 ± 3.10 U/mg), GSH (16.90 ± 1.70 mg/g, 22.70 ± 3.70 mg/g vs. 9.90 ± 1.30 mg/g) in the medium-, high- dose group significantly increased, while the content of MDA (3.20 ± 0.60 nmol/ml, 2.20 ± 0.30 nmol/ml vs. 4.30 ± 0.70 nmol/ml), NO (0.90 ± 0.10 μmol/L, 0.80 ± 0.20 μmol/L vs. 1.20 ± 0.30 μmol/L) significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion The ephedra water extract can protect the liver injury induced by cisplatin in rats. Key words: Ephedra sinica; Cisplatin; Chemical and drug induced liver injury; Rats