Protective effect of Pracparatum mungo extract on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 123; no. 4; pp. 1007 - 1012
• Main Authors: Kuo, Daih-Huang, Kang, Wen-Hsimg, Shieh, Po-Chuen, Chen, Fu-An, Chang, Ching-Dong, Tsai, Mei-Ling, Cheng, An-Chin, Ho, Chi-Tang, Pan, Min-Hsiung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2010; [Amsterdam]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alanine transaminase; animal models; Antioxidant activity; aspartate transaminase; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon tetrachloride; diet; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glutathione; hepatoprotective effect; Hepatotoxicity; human diseases; human nutrition; hydroperoxides; lipid peroxidation; liver damage; liver diseases; oxidative stress; plant extracts; Pracparatum mungo; rats; superoxide dismutase; traditional foods; Pracparatum mungo; Hepatotoxicity; Carbon tetrachloride; Antioxidant activity; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Rat; Rodentia; Extract; Antioxidant
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.05.052

Pracparatum mungo is a traditional and functional food in Traditional Chinese Medicine, especially for treating a variety of liver disorders. In this study, we first report the in vivo hepatoprotective effect of P. mungo extract (PME) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. Pre-treatment with PME for 56 days significantly reduced the impact of CCl 4 toxicity on the serum markers of liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The results were confirmed histopathologically. In addition, an increased lipid hydroperoxide (LPO), a decreased glutathione (GSH) concentration and a decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed in the hepatic tissues. On the contrary, treatment of PME prior to the administration of CCl 4 resulted in markedly decreased lipid peroxidation, increased the levels of GSH and SOD in rats. The results indicated that PME has a protective effect against acute hepatotoxicity induced by the administration of CCl 4 in rats, and that the hepatoprotective effects of PME may be due to both the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and the increase of antioxidant activity.