Influence on compatibility of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Laminaria japonica on liver and kidney functions and serum indexes in rats / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effects of compatibility of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Laminaria japonica on liver and kidney functions as well as serum indexes in rats. Methods A total of 24 male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 was served as control and only received vehicle. Group 2 and group 3 were orally dosed of G. uralensis extracts (2.8 g/kg) and L. japonica extracts (3.8 g/kg) once daily, respectively. Group 4 was orally dosed with 6.8 g/kg of G. uralensis-L. japonica extracts once daily. The experimental rats were treated corresponding extracts or vehicle for 17 weeks. During the experiment, the weight of rats, organ coefficient, biochemical indexes, and liver histopathological photograms in each group were measured. Meanwhile, plasma glycyrrhetinic acid concentration in G. uralensis extract group and G. uralensis-L. japonica extract group were observed. Results The water extraction components from G. uralensis and L. japonica groups could significantly reduce the level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholinesterase (CHE), total bile acid (TBA), and total bilirubin (TBIL) comparing with control group (P < 0.05). While the G. uralensis-L. japonica extracts group could reverse these biochemistry indexes. G. uralensis-L. japonica extracts markedly increased the plasma concentration and exposure of glycyrrhetinic acid. Electrolyte metabolism balance was disordered after long-term treatment of G. uralensis, L. japonica and G. uralensis-L. japonica extracts, showing the level of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and chloride ion (Cl-) in these three groups were significantly higher than that in control group. Conclusion These results indicated that G. uralensis or L. japonica extracts might has hepatoprotective effects. However, G. uralensis-L. japonica extracts attenuated the hepatoprotective effects, which might result from the increased plasma concentration of glycyrrhetinic acid.