Liu J, Liu Y, Mao Q, Klaassen CD. The effects of 10 triterpenoid compounds on experimental liver injury in mice.
FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED TOXICOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF TOXICOLOGY 1994;
22:34-40. [PMID:
8125211 DOI:
10.1006/faat.1994.1005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the hepatoprotective effects of 10 oleanane-type triterpenoid compounds on three known hepatotoxicants in mice. These compounds include oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, uvaol, alpha-hederin (alpha-H), hederagenin, glycyrrhizin, 18 alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid (alpha-GA), 18 beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (beta-GA), 19 alpha-hydroxyl asiatic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucoside (HAG), and 19 alpha-hydroxyl asiatic acid (HA). They were administrated sc for 3 days at 200 mumol/kg, except for alpha-H, which was given at 100 mumol/kg for 2 days. Acute liver injury was produced in male CF-1 mice by CCl4 (15 microliters/kg, ip), acetaminophen (500 mg/kg, ip), and cadmium chloride (3.7 mg/kg, iv). Liver damage was assessed by serum activities of alanine aminotransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, as well as by histopathological examination. alpha-Hederin, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid markedly decreased the toxicity produced by all three hepatotoxicants. Uvaol significantly decreased CCl4- and Cd-induced hepatotoxicity, but had no effect on acetaminophen toxicity. Glycyrrhizin, alpha-GA, and beta-GA decreased acetaminophen-induced liver injury, whereas hederagenin, HAG, and HA did not protect against any of the hepatotoxicants. In addition, alpha-hederin, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and uvaol increased hepatic metallothionein levels by 87-, 48-, 28-, and 10-fold, respectively, as determined by the Cd/hemoglobin assay. In conclusion, among the 10 triterpenoid compounds examined, alpha-hederin, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid appear to be the most effective in protecting against CCl4-, acetaminophen-, and Cd-induced liver injury.
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