Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of rhamnopyranosyl vanilloyl (RV) from
Scrophularia ningpoensis
root against tetrachloromethane (CCl
4)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice.
Methods: RV was isolated from
S. ningpoensis by column chromatography. ALI model of mice was
established by intraperitoneal injection of CCl
4. Liver index, liver function indices, as well as serum
alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBIL) were
evaluated. Lipid peroxidation (LPO)-related indices, including malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH),
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Bax and
caspase-3) in liver tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and
Western blot.
Results: After treatment with RV (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg), liver index (5.65 - 5.21 vs. 6.68 %), ALT (90.18 -
79.68 vs. 112.47 U/L), AST (64.44 - 57.63 vs. 75.41 U/L) and TBIL (2.68 - 1.95 vs. 3.21 U/L) activities,
as well as MDA (3.58 - 2.88 vs. 4.13 μmol/g), Bax and caspase-3 levels significantly (p < 0.05 or 0.01)
decreased, compared with those in control group. After treatment with RV (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg), GSH
(16.58 - 22.14 vs. 12.34 μmol/g), Bcl-2, SOD (86.45 - 107.61 vs. 68.43 U/mg) and GSH-Px (295.64 -
329.47 vs. 268.49 U/mg) levels or activities significantly (p < 0.05 or 0.01) increased, compared with
those in control group.
Conclusion: RV has protective effect against CCl
4-induced ALI in mice, and the mechanisms involve
the inhibition of LPO and apoptosis in liver cells. Thus, RV is a potential drug for the treatment of liver
injury
