Protective effect of alcohol extract of Yulangsan leaf on chemically-induced liver injury in mice

Yiping Feng,Renbin Huang,Yang Jiao

doi:10.4314/tjpr.v16i4.16

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of Millettia pulchra Kurz var. Laxior (Dunn) Z. Wei (Yulangsan) leaf (YLSL) on chemically-induced liver injury in mice.Methods: Models of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced liver injury in Kunming mice were prepared by intraperitoneal injection. Sixty mice were randomly divided into normal saline (NS) group, liver-injury group, low-, medium- and high-dose YLSL groups (7.5, 15 and 30 g/kg dose, respectively), and biphenyldicarboxylate (BPDC) group, with 10 animals per group. Indices for liver, spleen and thymus were assessed. Serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissues and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in liver tissue were assayed. Liver tissue damage was assessed histologically.Results: YLSL could significantly decrease the elevation of AST or ALT in liver injuries induced by CCl4 or D-GalN in mice, which showed a dose-effect relationship obviously. The high dose YLSL significantly decreased thymus weight relative to CCl4 and D-GalN (CCL4 CCL4+YLSL: 4.4213 ± 1.0544 vs 3.7120 ± 0.8534; D-GalN vs YLSL + D-GalN: 3.7272 ± 1.1655 vs 1.9548 ± 1.2996, p < 0.01). However, SOD activity was significantly increased (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). In treatment groups exposed to CCl4, GSH-Px activity was significantly increased (p < 0.01) and GSH levels decreased (middle dose group and positive control group). In treatment groups with D-GalN, GSH content was significantly increased (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), while GSH-Px activity decreased (p <0.01).Conclusion: YLSL has protective effect against chemically-induced liver injury in mice. The mechanism may be related to attenuation of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation.Keywords: Millettia pulchra, Liver injury, Biochemical parameters, Thymus, Antioxidant, Dgalactosamine, Biphenyldicarboxylate

Highlights

Experimental results demonstrated that for mice with CCl4-induced acute liver injury, YLS leaf alcohol extract at low dose significantly reduced the activity of serum aspartate transaminase (AST) (p < 0.01), while the middle dose significantly reduced the activity of serum ALT (p < 0.05).High dose of the extract resulted in significant reduction of MDA (p < 0.05), while each of the three doses significantly enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and GSH-PX (p < 0.01)
For mice with D-GalN-induced acute liver injury, low dose of YLS leaf alcohol extract reduced the activity of serum AST (p < 0.01); each dose significantly decreased serum ALT activity
Yulangsan leaf (YLSL) lowers the elevated activities of ALT, AST in acute liver injury mice-induced by CCl4 and DGalN, ameliorates liver pathological condition and have protective effects against CC14induced acute liver injury

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Studies have shown that the aqueous extract of YLS roots has hypotensive, free radical-scavenging, myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury-reducing properties [5] It has anti-dementia and antiinflammatory [6], as well as hepatoprotective effects [7,8]. The hepatoprotective effects of alcohol extract of Yulangsan leaves against chemical-induced liver injury were investigated in SPF Kunming mice through a combination of biochemical and histological procedures. SPF Kunming mice (half male and half female, weighing 20 ± 2 g) were provided by the Guangxi Medical University Experimental Animal Center (Shuangyong Road No 22, Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China). Yulangsan leaf (YLSL) alcohol extract was prepared by a method utilizing 70 % methanol for extraction for 2 h at reflux; analytical grade carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was purchased from Chengdu Kelong Chemical Reagent Factory (Sichuan, China). P < 0.05 or 0.01 was taken as statistically significant

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

Conflict of Interest