Abstract

Natural Calculus Bovis (NCB) is an important Chinese medical material commonly referred to as pigment gallstones of cows, which has been applied in many effective traditionally preparations of Chinese medicine for many years. The purpose of the study was to investigate effects of NCB on diethylnitrosamine induced hepatic injury in rats. Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of NCB on liver injury were also analyzed. Male, six-week old Wistar rats were treated with a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (200 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) and left for four weeks. For hepatoprotective and antioxidant studies, the NCB group was treated daily for four weeks. Hepatoprotective markers of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were determined in serum of rats. All the experimental animals administered with diethylnitrosamine were obviously elevated serum hepatoprotective markers. The treatment of the NCB prevented the diethylnitrosamine induced hepatic damage and oxidative stress. The experimental rats administered with the NCB protected the liver against diethylnitrosamine induced hepatic injury.

Key words: Calculus bovis, diethylnitrosamine, hepatic injury, hepatoprotective, rats.