Protective effect of gynostemma pentaphyllum makino polysaccharide on carbon tetrachlorideinduced liver injury

Objective To study the protective effect of gynostemma pentaphyllum makino polysaccharide (PGP) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) -induced liver injury in mice. Methods Forty-eight male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group, CCl4 group injury group, and PGP protection group (3 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, 12 mg/kg and 18 mg/kg), 8 in each group. A mouse acute liver injury model was established by abdominal injection with CCl4. Pathological changes in liver tissue sections were observed. Serum ALT and AST activities were measured. Results The pathological liver tissue changes were significantly less whereas the serum ALT and AST activities were significantly lower in PGP protection group than in CCl4 group and injury group(P ＜ 0.05). The protective effect of PGP on CCl4-induced liver injury was the best at the dose of 6 mg/kg. Conclusion PGP can effectively protect liver against CCl4-induced acute injury, which may be related with its anti-oxidizing, cell membrane stabilizing and lysosomal membrane preventing liver cell necrosis effects.