ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effect of dl-tetrahydropalmatine(dl-THP) on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CC4) in mice.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Mice were administracted with dl-tetrahydropalmatine ip 20, 40 mg x kg(-1) daily for 9 d respectively, and then actue liver injury model was induced by 0.1% carbon tetrachloride ip 20 mL x kg(-1). The mice were killed 17 h after injection ip of CCl4, serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST) activity were measured, and maleic dialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity in liver were detected.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>dl-THP significantly reduced the level of serum ALT and AST, inhibited lipoperxidation in liver, while increased SOD activity in liver tissue. Degeneration of hepatocytes was obviously prevented in mice treated with dl-THP, and the liver histological structure was well maintained.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>dl-THP has inhibitory effects on liver injury induced by CCl4 in mice. The mechanisms may be related with its effects of reducing lipid peroxidation product.</p>