Protective effect of total xanthone glycosides on acute liver damage in mice

Abstract

Aim: This study examined the protective effect of total xanthone glycosides (TXG) on CCL4 induced acute liver damage in mice. Materials and Methods: After oral administration of TXG (200 mg×kg-1, 100 mg×kg-1, 50mg×kg-1) over 7 days consecutively, the mice were given CCl4, leading to acute liver injury. The serum and the liver tissue levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotrasferase (AST) and the levels of superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver were measured. Liver tissue sections were examined under a light microscope. Results: TXG (200 mg×kg-1) markedly decreased the elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, and increased SOD level and decreased levels of MDA in liver. In the macro vision, TXG can keep the liver cell membrane systems with complete form under CCL4 injuring. Conlusion: TXG protects mice liver cells from acute damage induced by CCl4. The possible mechanism of this protection would be anti-lipid peroxidation of hepatic cells.