[Protective effects of Taiwan crude drugs on experimental liver injuries]

Protective effects of 41 Taiwan crude drugs on rat hepatic injuries caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) were investigated. The methanol extracts of Elephantopi Herba and Lonicerae Flos inhibited the release of intrahepatic enzymes and histological changes by CCl4. The methanol extracts of Canarii Radix, Arecae Pericarpium, Cynomorii Caulis, Polygoni Cuspidati Radix, Phyllodii Herba, Junci Caulis Medulla, Rubiae Herba and Rhinacanthi Herba protected the hepatic injury by ANIT. Among them, the water extracts of Cymorii Caulis and Junci Caulis Medulla showed higher protective potency than the methanol extracts. And them this two crude drugs also protected the cholestasis by ANIT.