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Updated: Mar 13, 2026
Inducing Acute Liver Injury in Rats via Carbon Tetrachloride CCl4 Exposure Through an Orogastric Tube
Published on: April 28, 2020
Sasa veitchii extract suppresses carbon tetrachloride-induced hepato- and nephrotoxicity in mice
Hiroki Yoshioka1, Miki Tanaka2, Hirohisa Fujii2
1College of Pharmacy, Kinjo Gakuin University, 2-1723 Omori, Moriyamaku, Nagoya, Aichi, 463-8521, Japan. h-yoshioka@kinjo-u.ac.jp.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of a Sasa veitchii leaf extract (SE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepato- and nephrotoxicity.
Methods:
Seven-week-old male ddy mice were orally administered SE or saline for seven days. Twenty-four hours after the last SE or saline administration, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 3 g/kg CCl4 or olive oil. The mice from each group were euthanized and bled for plasma analysis 24 h after the CCl4/olive oil injection.
Results:
We found that pretreatment with SE completely abolished the CCl4-induced mortality in the mice after 24 h. The mice pretreated with SE exhibited significantly decreased levels of functional markers, and reduced histological damage in both the liver and the kidney. Furthermore, we found that the SE pretreatment decreased lipid peroxidation and calcium levels in the liver. Although SE could not induce the free radical-scavenging metallothioneins, the plasma biological antioxidant power was significantly increased in the mice pretreated with SE.
Conclusion:
Our findings demonstrate that prophylactic treatment with SE protects mice from CCl4-induced lethal toxicity by decreasing oxidative stress in the liver and kidney, presumably by increasing biological antioxidant power.
Insights
Sasa veitchii leaf extract (SE) protected mice from lethal toxicity caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). SE treatment reduced liver and kidney damage by decreasing oxidative stress and increasing antioxidant power.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
- Natural Products
Background:
- Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a known hepatotoxin and nephrotoxin.
- Oxidative stress plays a critical role in CCl4-induced organ damage.
- Natural extracts are being explored for their protective properties against chemical toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of Sasa veitchii leaf extract (SE) against CCl4-induced liver and kidney toxicity.
- To investigate the underlying mechanisms of SE's protective effects.
Main Methods:
- Male ddy mice were pretreated with SE or saline orally for seven days.
- Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4.
- Plasma markers, liver and kidney histology, lipid peroxidation, calcium levels, and antioxidant power were analyzed.
Main Results:
- SE pretreatment completely prevented mortality from CCl4 exposure within 24 hours.
- SE significantly reduced liver and kidney damage markers and histological alterations.
- SE decreased lipid peroxidation and calcium levels in the liver, and increased plasma biological antioxidant power.
Conclusions:
- Sasa veitchii leaf extract demonstrates significant prophylactic and therapeutic effects against CCl4-induced toxicity.
- SE protects against CCl4-induced lethal toxicity by mitigating oxidative stress in the liver and kidney.
- The protective mechanism is likely linked to an enhancement of the body's overall biological antioxidant capacity.
