Beneficial Effect of a Controlled Chinese Herbal Remedy, K-17.22, in CCl4-Induced Liver Toxicity: An in vivo and in vitro Study.

Accession number;02A0089742
Title;Beneficial Effect of a Controlled Chinese Herbal Remedy, K-17.22, in CCl4-Induced Liver Toxicity: An in vivo and in vitro Study.
Author;MAROTTA F(S. Giseppe Hosp., Milano, Ita)   ROUGE A(.alpha.-.omega. Technolab-geneve, Milano)   HARADA M(Toumeikai Harada Hospital, Saitama, Jpn)   ANZULOVIC H(.alpha.-.omega. Technolab-geneve, Milano)   MARCO IDEO G(Yanaihara Inst., Shizuoka-ken, Jpn)   YANAIHARA N(Yanaihara Inst., Shizuoka-ken, Jpn)   PRINCESS G(.alpha.-.omega. Technolab-geneve, Milano)   IDEO G(S. Giseppe Hosp., Milano, Ita)   
Journal Title;Biomed Res
Journal Code:Z0236B
ISSN:0388-6107
VOL.22;NO.3;PAGE.167-173(2001)
Figure&Table&Reference;FIG.7, TBL.1, REF.18
Pub. Country;Japan
Language;English
Abstract;The aim of this study was to test K-17.22, an herbal formula which has been preliminarly shown to yield a significant transaminases decrease in HCV patients, in CCl4-induced liver toxicity. Wistar rats were allocated into 3 groups: A) given a s.c. injection of 0.1 mL/100 g body wt mixture of CCl4 in olive oil (1:1 v/v) twice a day for 4 weeks; B) as A, plus oral administration of 50 mg/kg of K-17.22 dissolved in 5% glucose; C) as B but with K-17.22 given 1 week after the first injection of CCl4. Rats were sacrificed at the end of the study and blood and liver samples were obtained. As compared to control, group A showed a significant decrease of GSH (>45%, P<0.001) and GSSG (P<0.01) liver content, a lower liver wet weight (P<0.01) together with an increase of both transaminases (>15-fold, P<0.001) whereas both groups B and C showed only a mild transaminases increase (<3-fold, P<0.05). Group A showed a significant decrease of Y-protein fraction and of GST activity, as tested by both substrates (P<0.01 vs control). However, both these parameters were reverted to normal by K-17.22 (P<0.05 vs. A). A parallel in vitro study with hepatocyte culture showed that concentrations as low as 10 .MU.g/mL of K-17.22 were able to significantly mitigate CCl4 hepatocyte damage (P<0.05) comparably to 100 .MU.g/mL silymarin, while 100 .MU.g/mL proved to be more protective than either silymarin 100 .MU.g/mL and of glycyrrhizin 10 .MU.g/mL (P<0.05). These preliminary data suggest that K-17.22 exerts an highly protective and prolonged effect (either preventive and therapeutic) on GSH depletion in CCl4-induced liver injury, thing which might substantiate its potential use in clinical practice. (author abst.)