Evaluation of the Efficacy of Kochiae fructus Extract in the Alleviation of Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Hepatoprotective effects of the extract of Kochiae fructus (KF), a traditional oriental medicinal plant, were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$)-induced liver damage in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, $CCl_4,\;CCl_4$ plus methanol extract of KF (KFM-$CCl_4$), and $CCl_4$ plus butanol extract of KF (KFB-$CCl_4$) groups. KFM and KFB were orally administered once a day (200 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days. A mixture of 0.2 mL/100 g body weight of $CCl_4$ in olive oil was injected at 30 minutes after the final administration of KFM and KFB. The KFB pretreatment resulted in a significant decrease in the serum transaminase and lactic dehydrogenase levels in the $CCl_4$-treated rats. The $CCl_4$ treatment significantly lowered the activities of glutathione, glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). However, pretreatment with KFM and KFB resulted in a significant increase in the glutathione, GR and GST levels. KFB increased the activities of SOD, catalase and GSH-Px, but KFM did not alter them. Pretreatment with KFM and KFB resulted in a significant decrease in the production of aminopyrine N-demethylase in the $CCl_4$-treated rats. KF extract would appear to contribute to alleviate the adveISe effect of $CCl_4$ treatment by enhancing the hepatic antioxidant defense system.