Hepatoprotective Effects of Saponins from <i>Rhizoma panacis majoris</i> on Hepatic Fibrosis Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats

Abstract

Saponins from Rhizoma Panacis Majoris (SRPM), the bioactive component in Rhizoma Panacis Majoris, have been used extensively as a remedy for liver injury diseases and achieved good clinical efficacy, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The goal of our present study was to further confirm SRPM hepatoprotective effect, and evaluate that whether SRPM attenuate oxidative stress and fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury, based on these results, investigate the probable mechanisms involved. At first, the separation and purification of SRPM were studied. And then, in the animal experiment, the male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model, l-SRPM and h-SRPM group. Hepatic fibrosis model were made according to our previous studies reported. At the same time, the experimental rats were treated respectively with relative drugs, once a day for 8 weeks. Hepatoprotective effects of SRPM were evaluated by liver function, total antioxidant capacity and total-superoxide dismutase, histopathological observations and the hepatic fibrosis relative gene expressions. In the study, we found that SRPM significantly improved liver function, serum antioxidation level, reversed the upregulated α-SMA and TIMP1 mRNA expressions, and further increased the MMP1 mRNA expression. Our studies indicated that SRPM exerted beneficially hepatoprotective effects on the CCl4 induced hepatic fibrosis, mainly enhancing liver tissue antioxidant capacity, reducing the lipid peroxidation of hepatocyte membranes, and then alleviating hepatic fibrosis and hepatic cell death.

Protective Effect of the Total Saponins from Rosa laevigata Michx Fruit against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats

“…In recent years, herbal medicines with high efficacy and low toxicity have been paid more and more attention, in order to develop new and efficient drugs. Some active natural products including tetrahydrocurcumin, Litchi chinensis Sonn flower extract, sho-saiko-to, saponins from Rhizoma panacis Majoris and Panax notoginseng saponins have potent effects for the treatment of liver fibrosis [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”