Hepatoprotective effects of aqueous extracts from leaves of Dendropanax morbifera leveille against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats and in vitro anti-oxidant effects

Protective effects of Dendropanax morbifera Lev. leaves (DM) against alcohol-induced liver injury in rat hepatocytes, and rats were investigated. Cell viability increased, and normally elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were reduced in cells treated with water extracts of DM (DMW) before ethanol treatment, compared with cells treated with 200 mM ethanol. DMW administration with ethanol resulted in prevention of ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity due to reductions of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels. DMW supplementation reduced formation of malondialdehyde, and inhibited reductions of hepatic glutathione, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase levels, compared with rats administered ethanol, and suppressed expression of cytochrome P-450 2E1 that was elevated by ethanol administration. DMW reduced blood ethanol concentrations, and enhanced alcohol dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities that are typically decreased by ethanol administration, compared with ethanol-administered rats. DM exerted hepatoprotective effects against alcoholinduced hepatocyte injury.