Hepatoprotective effects of ginseng saponins in a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury

Huizhi Lu, Yun Tan Tan, Luyu Yang, Hui Dong, Youxia Liao, Song Cao, Shouzhi Fu
2019 Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research  
Purpose: To investigate the effects of ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)induced liver injury in mice. Methods: Thirty-two mice were randomly divided into four groups. In control group, mice were administered sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) by intraperitoneal injection for seven days. In CCl4 treatment group, mice were treated as control group for the first seven days and then intraperitoneally injected with CCl4 in olive oil on day 8. In Rb1-and Rg1-treatment group,
more » ... the mice were intraperitoneally injected with Rb1 or Rg1 (each 30 mg/kg, dissolved in 0.5 % CMC-Na), respectively for seven days, followed by intraperitoneal injection with CCl4 in olive oil on day 8. Histological damage was examined by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were assessed enzymatically. Tissue IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured by ELISA. Gene and protein levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, Smad2, and Smad3 were analyzed by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and western blotting, respectively. Results: CCl4 treatment caused histological damage in mouse liver, and increased the levels This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest
doi:10.4314/tjpr.v17i12.10 fatcat:hmueh76ajzaxvcfyrb2pcnpjru