Hepatoprotective Effect of <i>Houttuynia cordata</i> Thunb Extract against Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatic Damage in Mice

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

<P><I>Houttuynia cordata</I> Thunb (<I>Saururaceae</I>) is a traditional medicinal herb used to treat several disease symptoms. The present study was focused on the hepatoprotective effects of <I>H. cordata</I> ethyl acetate extract in experimental mice. Further the antioxidant potential of the extract was also evaluated to substantiate its hepatoprotective properties. Carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in mice was used to measure the serum biochemical parameters. Morphological changes in hepatocyte architecture were studied by haematoxylin and eosin staining. <I>In vitro</I> alkyl and hydroxyl free radical scavenging assays were performed to evaluate the antioxidant effect. Administration of <I>H. cordata</I> extract significantly reduced the elevated serum levels and regulated the altered levels of serum cholesterol in carbon tetrachloride-treated mice (<I>P</I><0.05). The morphological changes in hepatocyte architecture were also reversed by <I>H. cordata</I> treatment. Further, the extract showed significant antioxidant actions by scavenging the alkyl and hydroxyl free radicals. The concentration of the extract necessary for 50% scavenging of alkyl and hydroxyl radicals was 15.5 and 410 μg/ml, respectively. <I>H. cordata</I> extract exhibited significant hepatoprotective property in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The strong antioxidant activities possessed by the extract might be responsible for such actions.</P>