swertiamarin and Chemical-and-Drug-Induced-Liver-Injury

Swertia mileensis, known as Qing-Ye-Dan (QYD), has been documented in Chinese Pharmacopoeia to cure hepatitis. Interestingly, its announced main active component, swertiamarin, could not be detected in the decoction, which indicated that the efficacy of QYD might be attributed to heat-transformed products of swertiamarin (HTPS). Further investigation on HTPS led to the isolation of sweritranslactone D (1), a novel secoiridoid dimer possessing a tetracyclic lactone skeleton, with better hepatoprotective activity than N-acetyl-L-cysteine in vitro.

Topics: Animals; Cell Line; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Hot Temperature; Humans; Iridoid Glucosides; Lactones; Mice; Molecular Structure; Protective Agents; Pyrones; Swertia

The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of the methanol extracts of Gentiana cruciata L. aerial parts (GCA) and roots (GCR) against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats. Pretreatment with GCA and GCR, containing sweroside, swertiamarin and gentiopicrin in high concentrations, dose-dependently and significantly decreased the levels of serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin, whereas an increase in the level of total protein was found compared with the CCl4-treated group. Moreover, oral administration of extracts significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase and catalase), increased the content of glutathione and decreased the content of TBARS. Microscopic evaluations of the liver revealed CCl4-induced lesions and related toxic manifestations that were minimal in the liver of rats pretreated with extracts at the dose of 400 mg per kg b.w. The results suggest that the use of G. cruciata extracts has a merit as a potent candidate in protecting the liver against chemical induced toxicity.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Antioxidants; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Bilirubin; Biomarkers; Carbon Tetrachloride; Catalase; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gentiana; Glutathione; Iridoid Glucosides; Iridoids; Liver; Male; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Pyrones; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Superoxide Dismutase; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

This study is an attempt to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Gentiana asclepiadea L. against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats. Methanol extracts of aerial parts (GAA) and roots (GAR) of G. asclepiadea at doses of 100, 200, and 400mg/ kg b.w. were orally administered to Wistar rats once daily for 7 days before they were treated with CCl(4). The hepatoprotective activity of the extracts in this study was compared with the reference drug silymarin. In CCl(4) treated animals, GAA and GAR significantly decreased levels of serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin, and increased the level of total protein. Treatment with the extracts resulted in a significant increase in the levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione, accompanied with a marked reduction in the levels of malondialdehyde, as compared to CCl(4) treated group. The histopathological studies confirmed protective effects of extracts against CCl(4)-induced liver injuries. No genotoxicity was observed in liver cells after GAA treatment, while GAR showed only slight genotoxic effects by comet assay. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of sweroside, swertiamarin and gentiopicrin in high concentrations in both extracts. It could be concluded that the use of G. asclepiadea extracts in the treatment of chemical-induced hepatotoxicity.

Topics: Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Bilirubin; Carbon Tetrachloride; Catalase; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gentiana; Glutathione; Iridoid Glucosides; Liver; Male; Malondialdehyde; Mutagenicity Tests; Plant Extracts; Protective Agents; Pyrones; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Silymarin; Superoxide Dismutase; Toxicity Tests, Acute