Abstract
Hepatoprotective effects of Malloti cortex extract (MCE) from Mallotus japonicus against the carbon tetrachloride (CCl$_{4}$) and galactosamine (GalN) were investigated. Whereas serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were markedly elevated after CCl$_{4}$ and GalN administration, pretreatment and posttreatment with MCE before and after the injection of CCl$_{4}$ and GalN resulted in decreases in elevated serum aminotransferase activities. Whereas CCl$_{4}$ and GalN treatment caused 3~7 fold increases in sorbitol dehydrogenase and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase activities, pretreatment and posttreatment with MCE resulted in the blocking of CCl$_{4}$ and GalN-induced liver toxicity. The hepatoprotective effect of MCE was in part due to MCE-induced elevation of hepatic glutathione levels. Pretreatment and posttreatment with MCE also reduced increased lipid peroxidation induced by CCl$_{4}$ and GalN. These results suggest that MCE may be useful for the prevention and therapy of hepatotoxic pathogenesis. It is presumed that protective and therapeutic effects of MCE due to be inducible glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities, involving in glutathione-medicated detoxication and maintainment of glutathione content, respectively.
