Protective and therapeutic effects of huanglian-jie-du-tang on hepatotoxin-induced liver injuries

The hepatoprotective effect of Huanglian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT), a Chinese medicinal prescription, was investigated in three kinds of experimental models. The animals were treated with HLJDT (300 mg/kg, p.o.) thrice at 2, 4 and 10 hours after administration with carbon tetrachloride (32 μl/kg, i.p.), acetaminophen (600 mg/kg, i.p.) and β-D-galactosamine (188 mg/kg, i.p.). Significant hepatoprotective effects on carbon tetrachloride and actaminophen induced liver injuries were noted, but no significant effect on β-D-galactosamine induced liver injury was observed. These hepatoprotective effects were evidenced by comparing the serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SCOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) levels in HLJDT treated and untreated groups. Serum enzyme activities in the carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen experiments were significantly lower in the treated groups while the herbal prescription has no effect on the β-D-galactosamine experiment. These results demonstrated that Huanglian-Jie-Du-Tang has a hepatoprotective effect against experimental liver injuries induced by specific hepatotoxins, and therefore may be useful in treating some, but not all, liver injuries.