Extracts from sojae semen germinatum ameliorated carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in mice

Abstract

Sojae semen germinatum (SSG) prepared from the germinating black soybean Glycine max L. Merr. is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with heat-clearing, dampness-removing, and detoxifying properties. In the present study, we explored the effects and possible underlying mechanisms of petroleum ether extract (PEE), ethyl acetate extract (EAE), n-butanol extract (NBE) and aqueous fraction (AF) of SSG on the carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced liver injury in mice, an animal model representing pathological features of "dampness-heat" syndrome from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Results showed that the EAE and NBE of SSG significantly protected mice against the CCl 4 -induced increases of liver tissue index and serum transaminase levels, ameliorated the CCl 4 -induced liver morphological changes. Compared with CCl 4 model controls, EAE and NBE of SSG decreased malondiadehyde (MDA) levels, enhanced glutathione (GSH) content and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in liver tissues, as well as reduced the number of apoptotic hepatocytes. Moreover, the CCl 4 -induced increase of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in livers was markedly suppressed by pre-treatment with EAE of SSG. Data suggested that SSG extracts showed protective effect on the CCl 4 -induced liver injury via multiple pharmacological mechanisms including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis. EAE and NBE appeared to be superior to other fractions.