Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Pamukkale, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey.
Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2012 Aug;12(3):177-81. doi: 10.17305/bjbms.2012.2472.
Crataegus species have been widely used in herbal medicine, especially for the hearth diseases. In the present study, the effect of Crataegus aronia var. dentata Browicz extract on partially hepatectomized rats was investigated with biochemical and TUNEL apoptosis assays. The extracts of the plant at the concentrations of 0.5 and 1 ml/100 g body weight/day were administered orally to the two experimental groups including partially hepatectomized rats for 42 days. At the end of the experimental period, animals were sacrificed, blood was collected for the assessment of serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and the liver tissue was used for TUNEL assay. In biochemical assay, it was found a significant decrease in the levels of serum ALT and AST in the experimental groups. On the other hand, the plant extract did not cause any significant changes in the level of GGT in these groups. In apoptosis assay, TUNEL positive hepatocytes could not be detected in both experimental groups. The present findings can suggest that Crataegus aronia var. dentata Browicz extract can decrease the levels of serum ALT and AST and play a role in apoptosis of hepatocytes in the liver of partially hepatectomized rats. However, further studies are required to confirm the effects of the plant extract on hepatoprotection and apoptosis in the regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy in animal models.
山楂属植物在草药医学中被广泛应用，特别是用于心脏疾病。在本研究中，通过生化和 TUNEL 凋亡检测法，研究了龙牙草山楂提取物对部分肝切除大鼠的影响。将植物提取物以 0.5 和 1 ml/100 g 体重/天的浓度口服施用于两个实验组，包括部分肝切除大鼠，持续 42 天。在实验期末，处死动物，采集血液用于评估血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）和γ-谷氨酰转移酶（GGT）水平，并且使用 TUNEL 检测法检测肝组织。在生化检测中，发现实验组的血清 ALT 和 AST 水平显著降低。另一方面，植物提取物在这些组中并未引起 GGT 水平的任何显著变化。在凋亡检测中，在两个实验组中均未检测到 TUNEL 阳性的肝细胞。本研究结果提示，龙牙草山楂提取物可降低血清 ALT 和 AST 水平，并在部分肝切除大鼠的肝部分细胞凋亡中发挥作用。然而，需要进一步的研究来确认植物提取物在动物模型中对肝部分切除后肝脏再生的肝保护和凋亡的影响。
