Further studies on the hepatoprotective effects of Anoectochilus formosanus

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Anoectochilus formosanus effective fraction (AFEF) on chronic liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice. CCl4 (5%; 0.1 mL/10 g body weight) was given twice a week for 9 weeks, and mice received AFEF throughout the whole experimental period. Plasma GPT, hepatic levels of hydroxyproline and malondialdehyde were significantly lower in mice treated with AFEF compared with those treated with CCl4 only. Liver pathology in the AFEF-treated mice was also improved. RT-PCR analysis showed that AFEF treatment increased the expression of methionine adenosyltransferase 1A and decreased the expression of collagen(alpha1)(I) and transforming growth factor-beta1. These results clearly demonstrated that AFEF reduced the hepatic damage induced by CCl4 in mice.