Chengwang Tian1, Tiejun Zhang2, Lili Wang2, Qi Shan2, Linghuo Jiang3. 1. School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin 300193, China. 2. Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin 300193, China; State Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Pharmacokinetics, Tianjin 300193, China. 3. School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China. Electronic address: linghuojiang@jiangnan.edu.cn.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Total iridoids and xanthones (TIXS) were extracted from Swertia mussotii Franch, one of the most important eight Tibetan medicines in China, which was recorded in the book of Jingzhu Bencao and used for clinical treatment of cholestatic hepatitis for many years. Our aim was to study the hepatoprotective effect and chemical constituents of the TIXS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Crude extracts were prepared using 90% ethanol, and individual fractions were collected following HPD-300 macroporous resin column chromatography. HPLC/MS was applied to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the TIXS. Then, the alpha-naphthylisot hiocyanate-induced liver damage model was used to assess the hepatoprotective effect of the TIXS. RESULTS: A total of 12 compounds were identified by the fingerprint chromatography of the TIXS, and swertiamarin and swertianolin were shown to be its two main components. Oral administration of the TIXS at a dose of 35, 70 or 140 mg kg(-1), swertiamarin at a dose of 20 mg kg(-1) or swertianolin at a dose of 20 mg kg(-1), for 7 days in mice significantly reduced the alpha-naphthylisot hiocyanate-induced levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and the total and direct bilirubins, and increased the bile flow (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the TIXS exhibits significant hepatoprotective effect in the liver damage model induced by alpha-naphthylisot hiocyanate. Its active constituents include swertiamarin and swertianolin.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Total iridoids and xanthones (TIXS) were extracted from Swertia mussotii Franch, one of the most important eight Tibetan medicines in China, which was recorded in the book of Jingzhu Bencao and used for clinical treatment of cholestatic hepatitis for many years. Our aim was to study the hepatoprotective effect and chemical constituents of the TIXS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Crude extracts were prepared using 90% ethanol, and individual fractions were collected following HPD-300 macroporous resin column chromatography. HPLC/MS was applied to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the TIXS. Then, the alpha-naphthylisot hiocyanate-induced liver damage model was used to assess the hepatoprotective effect of the TIXS. RESULTS: A total of 12 compounds were identified by the fingerprint chromatography of the TIXS, and swertiamarin and swertianolin were shown to be its two main components. Oral administration of the TIXS at a dose of 35, 70 or 140 mg kg(-1), swertiamarin at a dose of 20 mg kg(-1) or swertianolin at a dose of 20 mg kg(-1), for 7 days in mice significantly reduced the alpha-naphthylisot hiocyanate-induced levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and the total and direct bilirubins, and increased the bile flow (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the TIXS exhibits significant hepatoprotective effect in the liver damage model induced by alpha-naphthylisot hiocyanate. Its active constituents include swertiamarin and swertianolin.