Effects of Mume Fructus on the Rat Hypothyroidism Induced by PTU(6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil)

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aqueous extracts of Mume Fructus(MF) on the 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil(PTU)-induced rat hypothyroidism.Methods : Aqueous extracts of MF(yield = 19.38%) were administered, once per day for 42 days from 2 weeks before starting of PTU treatment as an oral dose of 300 and 150 ㎎/㎏(body weight), and hypothyroidism was induced by daily subcutaneous treatment of PTU 10 ㎎/㎏ for 28 days. The changes in the body weight, thyroid gland weights, liver weight, serum levels of thyroid hormone-thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), tri-iodothyronine(T3) and thyroxine(T4), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein(LDL), high density lipoprotein(HDL) and triglyceride (TG), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), liver antioxidant defense system-lipid peroxidation, H2O2, superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) were examined with histopathology of thyroid glands and liver.Results : Results were compared with LevoT40.5 ㎎/㎏ treated rats. MF extracts recovered from the decreases in the body weight, liver weight, T3and T4, TG, liver CAT activities as results of PTU treatment. And MF extracts recovered from the increases of thyroid gland weights, TSH, HDL contents, liver H2O2, AST as results of PTU treatment. In addition, these PTU-induced histopathological changes in thyroid glands and liver related to hypothyroidism were dramatically decreased by treatment of both different dosages of MF extract, respectively.Conclusions : According to the above results, it is suggested that MF extracts have advantageous effects on the thyroid hormone productions with beneficial effects on the hypothyroidism related liver injuries mediated by the modulation on the antioxidant system.