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Two Cycloartane saponins, astragaloside-IV and cyclocephaloside-I, were isolated from the roots of Astragalus gummifera. Their structures were determined by utilizing 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Hepatoprotective effects of astragaloside-IV against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in rats was studied. The rats (200-230 g) of either sex were divided into 6 groups (6 rats each). Injection of a single dose of CCl 4 increases the level of serum AST, ALT, GGT, ALP and total bilirubin activities, decreases non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) and total proteins (TPs), increases malondialdehyde (MDA) and produces changes in hepatic and nephritic tissue structure. Administration of doses of 25, 50 and 75 mg kgG 1 of astragaloside-IV reversed significantly (p<0.001) the liver diagnostic blood markers as well as stricture of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity of the treated groups when compared to the control group. The present finding indicated that astragaloside-IV is an active hepatoprotective agent that restores the affected biochemical markers and nephritic and hepatic tissues.

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