| Abstract |
Introduction: Bergenin is a C-glucoside of 4-O-methylgallic acid. Bergenin has been claimed to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperglycemic activities. This study aimed to evaluate hepatoprotective activity of bergenin against ethanol-induced oxidative stress in mice. Materials and methods: The 8-week-old male ICR mice were orally given bergenin (10, 50, and 250 mg/kg/day) or gallic acid (100 mg/kg/day, positive control) for 7 days before single oral administration of ethanol (5 g/kg/day), while the control group was simply orally given water. Liver injury biomarkers in mouse serum, e.g. aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and antioxidant enzymes in mouse liver, e.g. superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were examined. Results: The levels of serum AST and ALT were significantly increased in ethanol-induced oxidative stress mice, in accordance with a significant decrease in hepatic SOD and CAT activities, compared with control group (p<0.05). Bergenin significantly decreased the levels of serum AST and ALT along with a significant increase in hepatic SOD and CAT activities, compared with the ethanol-induced oxidative stress mice (p<0.05). Correspondingly, gallic acid showed a tendency to reduce the serum ALT level with a significant decrease in the serum AST level and a significant increase in hepatic SOD and CAT activities in ethanol-induced oxidative stress mice, compared with the ethanol-induced oxidative stress mice (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ethanol increased serum AST and ALT levels and reduced hepatic SOD and CAT activities leading to oxidative stress in mice. Bergenin exhibited hepatoprotective potential via balancing oxidant-antioxidant system; to decrease serum AST and ALT levels and to promote hepatic SOD and CAT activities, comparable to those did by gallic acid. Therefore, bergenin is an ultimate candidate for further development as hepatoprotective products |
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