The Protective Effect of Sheep Placental Extract on Concanavalin A-induced Liver Injury in Mice

Abstract

Though the biological effects of human placental extract have been widely studied, it has limited availability and its use poses ethical problems. Thus, domestic animal placental extracts are suggested as alternatives. In this study, the protective effect of sheep placental extract (SPE) on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced liver injury was investigated. BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups, including one normal group and five experimental groups, which received different oral doses of SPE (0, 5, 10 and 50 mg/kg) or a mixture of amino acids for 3 days before Con A injection. Compared with Con A-induced model group, the SPE administration significantly decreased serum aminotransaminase activity, alleviated pathological changes, recovered liver antioxidant capacity and prevented the increase of nitric oxide. Secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum decreased and mRNA expression of hepatic intercellular adhesion molecule-1, interferon-inducible chemokine 10 and inducible nitric oxide synthase were downregulated, while B-cell lymphoma-2 expression increased. The administration of amino acids mixture had no significant effect in most measurements compared with the model group, which indicated proteins and peptides, rather than individual amino acid, were largely responsible for the bioactivity of SPE. The results indicate SPE has potential therapeutic effects against immune-mediated hepatitis.

Porcine placental extract facilitates memory and learning in aged mice

“…Moreover, the neuronal cells of the hippocampal CA3 region show progressive age‐associated decline (Bronzetti, Felici, Zaccheo, & Amenta, ; Brunson, Eghbal‐Ahmadi, Bender, Chen, & Baram, ; Hioki et al, ). It was expected that placental extract may reduce the loss of neuronal cells associated with age, as it is known to have cytoprotective effects (Kawakatsu, Urata, Goto, Ono, & Li, ; Kim et al, ; Liu et al, ). Porcine placental extract has previously been shown to suppress fear memory impairment and Nissl‐positive cell loss in the hippocampal CA3 region induced by restraint stress in ovariectomized mice (Takuma et al, ).…”

“…It was expected that placental extract may reduce the loss of neuronal cells associated with age, as it is known to have cytoprotective effects (Kawakatsu, Urata, Goto, Ono, & Li, 2012;Kim et al, 2010;Liu et al, 2019). Porcine placental extract has previously been shown to suppress fear memory impairment and Nissl-positive cell loss in the hippocampal CA3 region induced by restraint stress in ovariectomized mice (Takuma et al, 2012).…”

Acupuncture point injection with placental extract improves pain and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

“…The medical agents administered in acupuncture points are thought to play a synergistic effect with acupuncture point stimulation, and this method is believed to have a more sustained effect than the traditional acupuncture needling or simple intramuscular injection [24]. We speculate that anti-inflammation [25,26], anti-insomnia [27,28], and anti-fatigue [29,30] of placental extract might afford a sound basis for the reduction of pain, decrease of sleep disorder, and increase of productive time in this study. Increase of productive time which covers spending times for daily physical activities without sensation of fatigue and pain-evoked rest implies that patients with FMS manage their daily life more productively after successive APIs with placental extract.…”

Off-Flavor Removal from Sheep Placenta via Fermentation with Novel Yeast Strain Brettanomyces deamine kh3 Isolated from Traditional Apple Vinegar

“…Although it has a wide range of therapeutic activities, the human placenta is limited in its wide industrial applications owing to ethical considerations. Thus, placentae from animals such as sheep, goats, horses, pigs, and cattle have attracted attention as alternatives to the human placenta [ 2 ]. In particular, sheep placentae are emerging in the cosmetic industry as cosmeceuticals that can improve skin health and treat skin diseases.…”