Abstract
Gentiopicroside (GPS), a main bitter secoiridoid constituent of roots of Gentiana macrophylla Pall., was tested for therapeutic effects on the two hepatic injury models, the CCl4-induced and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-induced hepatitides.
An increase in serum level of hepatic amino-transferases (GOT: EC 2.6.1.1. and GPT:
EC 2.6.1.2.) induced by a p.o. treatment of CCl4 was suppressed by pretreatment with GPS at 30-60 mg/kg/day for 5 consecutive days.
An increase of these enzymes triggered by an i.v. treatment with LPS in mice primed with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was also inhibited
by GPS pretreatment at the same dose of GPS. In the BCG/LPS model, tumor necrosis
factor (TNF), a major inflammatory mediator, was increased in serum with a peak at
90-120 min, followed by an increase of serum transaminase activities. GPS treatment
significantly suppressed the increase of TNF in serum at the therapeutic doses, suggesting
that GPS protected against hepatitis by inhibiting the production of TNF.
Key words
Gentiana macrophylla Pall. - Gentianaceae - gentiopicroside - tumor necrosis factor - amino-transferase
- hepatocyte protection - hepatitis
