Effect of Ginkgo biloba , Panax ginseng , and Schizandra chinensis extract on antioxidative capacity of damaged liver induced by carbon tetrachloride

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, and Schizandra chinensis extract on antioxidative capacity of damaged liver induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, CCl4-treated, CCl4+silymarin (200 mg/kg/d)-treated, CCl4+1× herbal extract cocktail (HEC; 150 mg/kg/d for each)-treated, or CCl4+5× HEC (150 mg/kg/d for each)-treated groups for 6-week experimental period. The results showed that CCl4-treated groups significantly increased plasma GOT and GPT activities compared with the control group at week 4. Both CCl4+silymarin and 1× HEC-treated groups significantly decreased plasma GOT activity, and the 1× HEC-treated group significantly decreased plasma GPT activity compared with the CCl4-treated group. The CCl4-treated group had lower hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, but other CCl4-treated groups had similar SOD activities to the control group. The CCl4+5× HEC-treated group had higher hepatic catalase activity than other four groups. Silymarin and HEC treatments enhanced total antioxidant status impaired by CCl4 treatment. Additionally, HEC treatment partially decreased hepatic lipid peroxides elevated by CCl4 treatment. The pathologic examination showed that liver fibrosis was ameliorated in the HEC-treated groups. These results suggest that Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, and Schizandra chinensis extract improve hepatic antioxidative capacity and diminish liver fibrosis in rats with CCl4-induced liver damage.