Effects of Total Saponins from Panax Japonicus on Acute Hepatic Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the protection mechanism of total saponins from Panax japonicus on acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. Methods HepG2 cells were used to establish CCl4-induced liver cell injury model in vitro experiments. Mouse model of acute liver injury was caused by 1%CCl4 oil on Balb/c. Mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group and medicine group. Mice in the medicine group were given a gavage with 20 mL/kg total saponins from Panax japonicus, while mice in the other two groups were given a gavage with the same amount of stroke-physiological saline solution. MTT method was used to detect the activity of hepatic cells. The pathological changes of mouse liver were examined by HE staining. RT-PCR was used to detect changes in the expression of transforming growth TGF-β, TNF-α, and TLR4 mRNA. Results Compared with normal group, less hepatic cells survived in model group (P<0.01);compared with model group, more hepatic cells survived in medicine group (P<0.01). HE staining showed that damages in liver tissues of medicine group significantly improved than those in model group. RT-PCR results showed that the levels of TGF-β, TNF-α, and expression of TLR4 mRNA increased more significantly than those in model group;the expression of TGF-β, TNF-α, and TLR4 mRNA in medicine group decreased more significantly than those in model group, with statistical significance (P<0.01). Conclusion The total saponins from Panax japonicus has a protective effect on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride.