Du-Zhong ( Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) leaves inhibits CCl 4-induced hepatic damage in rats

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 44; no. 8; pp. 1424 - 1431
• Main Authors: Hung, Ming-Yu, Fu, Timothy Yu-Chi, Shih, Ping-Hsiao, Lee, Chia-Pu, Yen, Gow-Chin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2006
• Subjects: Antioxidant effects; Carbon tetrachloride; Eucommia ulmoides Oliv; Hepatic damage; Protocatechuic acid; GSSG; DTNB; ALP; Eucommia ulmoides Oliv; Carbon tetrachloride; GST; GPT; Antioxidant effects; GR; MDA; WEDZ; GOT; Protocatechuic acid; GPx; PCA; CCl 4; LDH; TEAC; Hepatic damage; GSH
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2006.03.009

The protective effects of water extract of Du-Zhong ( Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) leaves (WEDZ) and its active compound (protocatechuic acid; PCA) on liver damage were evaluated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rats. Wistar rats were orally treated with WEDZ (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg bw) or PCA (0.1 g/kg bw) with administration of CCl 4 (0.5 ml/rat, 20% CCl 4 in olive oil) for 28 consecutive days. It showed that CCl 4-treated rats increased the relative organ weights of liver and kidney. CCl 4-induced rats liver damage and significantly ( p < 0.05) increased the GOT, GPT, LDH and ALP levels in serum as compared with the control group. Treatment with WEDZ or PCA could decrease the GOT, GPT, LDH and ALP levels in serum when compared with CCl 4-treated group. CCl 4-treated rats also significantly ( p < 0.05) decreased the GSH content in liver and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) in serum whereas increased ( p < 0.05) MDA content in liver as compared with the control group. Treatment with WEDZ or PCA also significantly ( p < 0.05) increased the GSH content and significantly ( p < 0.05) decreased the MDA content in liver. Administration of WEDZ or PCA could increase the activities of GPx, GRd and GST in liver. Liver histopathology showed that WEDZ or PCA reduced the incidence of liver lesions including hepatic cells cloudy swelling, lymphocytes infiltration, cytoplasmic vacuolization, hepatic necrosis and fibrous connective tissue proliferated induced by CCl 4 in rats. The data suggest that oral administration with WEDZ for 28 consecutive days significantly decrease the intensity of hepatic damage induced by CCl 4 in rats.