Abstract

Yi-Hang Wu*, Bing-Jie Hao , E. Shen , Xiao-Meng Zhang and Yu Zhao

The immune factors were the main reasons of hepatic damage in hepatitis. To validate the beneficial effects of Laggera alata on hepatitis in humans, regulatory properties of L. alata extract (LAE) was studied using a Bacillus Calmette-Guerin- Lipopolysaccharide (BCG-LPS) induced immune liver injury model in mice. Quantificational analysis of LAE indicated that isochlorogenic acids were the major components in the extract whose content amounted to 51%. LAE reduced the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and nitric oxide (NO) levels of the mice, also decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in mouse liver, and increased the levels of total protein and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in mouse liver. Meanwhile, resulted in significant recovery of immunemediated hepatocyte injury in the liver sections. The study suggests that the regulatory properties of LAE may be achieved by ameliorating oxidative stress from BCG-LPS-induced immune liver injury or by preventing tissue damage as a result in inflammation. Isochlorogenic acids may be its substance basis responsible for the regulatory potential. Additional, flavonol components may also play important role in the pharmacological activity of L. alata.