Hepatoprotective effects of Giant salamander glycopeptides against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) -induced hepatic injury in mice

The present study aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective effects of GSGPs (Giant Salamander glycopeptides) on the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) -induced hepatic injury in mice.CCl4 was administered intraperitoneally (IP) to establish the CCl4 induced acute liver injury mouse model .These mice were simultaneously given by gavage using three different doses of GSGPs (prepared from Andrias davidianus mucus by enzymatic hydrolysis) .The positive control was administrated with 200mg/kg biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) .Aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels in serum, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in liver were measured .Histomorphology changes in liver tissues were evaluated by the optical microscope.Results showed :acute hepatic injury protections of GSGPs were demonstrated by the fact that increases in activity of liver AST and ALT caused by CCl4 in mice treated with middle (400mg/ (kg·d) ) and high (800mg/ (kg·d) ) doses of GSGPs were significantly inhibited while the MDA content was significantly lowered and SOD activity enhanced as well.Microscopic observations showed that in the CCl4 model group, liver cells were markedly swelled and deformed with inordinate liver cell cords and accompanied inflammatory cell infiltration.However, in the liver of mice treated with low, middle and high concentrations of GSGPs, liver cell cords were arranged in order, liver cells were regular arranged, and the damage was significantly reduced compared with the model group.Results indicated that CCl4 acute liver damages could be inhibited by GSGPs.