계혈등 물추출물의 간세포 보호효과

Objectives: This study was investigated the protective effect of Spatholobi Caulis water extract against cadmium (CdCl2, Cd)-induced hepatic toxicity in rats. Methods: To induce acute hepatic toxicity, Cd (4 mg/kg body weight) was dissolved in normal saline and intravenously injected into rats. Then, the rats received either a vehicle or silymarin (100 mg/kg) or Spatholobi Caulis water extract (30, 50 mg/kg/day) for 3 days, and were exposed to a single injection of Cd 24 h after the last Spatholobi Caulis/vehicle treatment. Results: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly increased by Cd treatment. In contrast, pretreatment with Spatholobi Caulis reduced ALT, AST and LDH. Cd-intoxicated liver damage was significantly inhibited by treatment of Spatholobi Caulis 30 and 50 mg/kg at histopathological observations in the present study. Conclusions: These results can be considered as direct evidence that Spatholobi Caulis has favorable inhibitory effects on the Cd-intoxicated liver damages. The efficacy of Spatholobi Caulis 30 mg/kg shows similar effects to that of silymarin 100 mg/kg, and more favorable hepatoprotective effects were observed in Spatholobi Caulis 50 mg/kg as compared with silymarin 100 mg/kg against Cd-intoxicated hepatopathies in the present study.