Protective effect of extracts of european hippocastanum seeds on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride

Objective To study the effects of different doses of extracts of european hippocastanum seeds(EEHS) on liver function and liver histological morphology,and to explore its mechanisms of action.Methods Female mice were randomly divided into six groups:normal control group,model control group,bifendate group and different doses of EEHS(75,150,and 300mg/kg) group.Liver injury was induced by CCI4 in mice.Change of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) activities were detected.The activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catcalase(CAT),and the level of glutathione(GSH) in serum and liver tissues were also measured by biochemical methods.Results Compare with the normal group,the activity of ALT,AST and CAT in serum and the activity of CAT in liver tissues were significantly increased(P 0.01),but the activity of SOD and the level of GSH in serum and in liver tissues were significantly decreased in model group(P 0.01).Compare with the model group,EEHS treatment significantly attenuated the inflammatory response to CCl_4-induced liver injury,as evidenced by inhibited the activity of ALT and AST in serum and lowed in serum and liver tissue CAT activity in a dose-dependent manner(P 0.01).EEHS effectively increased the activity of SOD and the levels of GSH in serum and liver tissues(P 0.05).Conclusion The EEPS inhibits the liver injury in the CCl_4-treated mice.