Liver-protecting effects of extracts from Glossy privet fruit and Ecliptae herba formula in mice through suppression of Kupffer cells activation

Abstract

Glossy privet fruit and Ecliptae herba (GE) as formula was used as traditional Chinese medicine for liver diseases. However, systematic research of GE in liver injury has been explored rarely. Here, we comprehensively investigate the hepato-protective effects of the mixture of GE on different models. Our data indicated that GE administration decreased the levels of ALT and AST in serum compared with the model group. The histopathological changes were markedly alleviated in the GE treated groups. In addition, expression of cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6 and TGF-β in liver tissue associated with liver injury was elevated in the model groups, but significantly decreased after GE treatment. Furthermore, we explored that activation of Kupffer cells in liver tissue were suppressed after treatment with GE. Therefore, the major mechanism of the liver protective effects of GE may be attributed to the inhibition of Kupffer cell activation.

Keywords

• glossy privet fruit and ecliptae herba formula
• liver injury
• pathological changes
• cytokines
• kupffer cells