Evaluation of the liver protective principles from the root ofCudrania cochinchinensis var.gerontogea

Three components in the EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions, obtained from the ethanol extract of Cudrania cochinchinensis var. gerontogea (Moraceae) were evaluated for their hepatoprotective activities in rats on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced hepatotoxicity. Three flavonoids (25 mg/kg), wighteone, naringenin and populnin (kaempferol-7-glucoside), exhibited greater hepatoprotective effects on CCl4-induced liver injury than on D-GalN-induced hepatotoxicity by reversing the altered serum enzymes (SGOT and SGPT) and preventing the development of hepatic lesions, including liver centrilobular inflammation, cell necrosis, fatty change, ballooning degeneration in CCl4 intoxication and necrosis of the portal area in D-GalN intoxication. Wighteone and naringenin (25 mg/kg) isolated from the EtOAc fraction showed a better hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced liver injury than that of populnin (25 mg/kg) obtained from the n-BuOH fraction. Furthermore, wighteone protected the liver, not only against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, but also against D-GalN-induced liver injury. These results demonstrated that wighteone and naringenin are two active hepatoprotective principles from Cudrania cochinchinensis var. gerontogea.