[Effects of magnesium lithospermate B on D-galactosamine induced rat liver injury]

To investigate the effective ingredients of Salvia miltiorrhizae on anti-liver injury, the water soluble component of the above drug, magnesium lithosperamate B, was used to conduct the experimental treatment of acute liver injury by D-galactosamine (10 mg/kg body weight, orally). The results showed that the component could obviously attenuate the necrosis of liver tissues, lower the activities of serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST), P < 0.05. Compared with those of the normal rats, the levels of the products of cyclo-oxygenase (6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, prostaglandin D2 and total prostaglandins) in the metabolism of arachidonic acid in non-parenchymal cells of acute liver-injured rats were markedly decreased (P < 0.05). These data revealed that magnesium lithosperamate B might be one of the main components of Salvia miltiorrhizae in anti-liver injury, while increasing the levels of total prostaglandins in liver non-parenchymal cells was perhaps one of the mechanisms of anti-liver injury.