Biomol Ther.  2016 Mar;24(2):156-162. 10.4062/biomolther.2015.094.

Comparative Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activities of Geniposide, Crocins and Crocetin by CCl4-Induced liver Injury in Mice

• Chen P
• Chen Y
• Wang Y
• Cai S
• Deng L
• Liu J
• Zhang H

• KMID: 2170527
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2015.094

Abstract

Iridoid glycosides (mainly geniposide) and crocetin derivatives (crocins) are the two major active constituents in Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. In the present study, geniposide, crocins, crocin-1 and crocetin were separated from gardenia chromatographically. Then, mice were orally administrated with geniposide (400 mg/kg b.w.), crocins (400 mg/kg b.w.), crocin-1 (400 mg/kg b.w.) and crocetin (140 mg/kg b.w.) once daily for 7 days with CCl4. Hepatoprotective properties were evaluated by biochemical parameters: Administration of geniposide, crocins, crocin-1and crocetin significantly lowered serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in CCl4-treated mice. The reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) activities were also increased by geniposide, crocins, crocin-1 and crocetin. Histopathological examination of livers showed that these components reduced deformability, irregular arrangement and rupture of hepatocyte in CCl4-treated mice. These biochemical results and liver histopathological assessment demonstrated that geniposide, crocetin derivatives and crocetin show comparative beneficial effects on CCl4-induced liver damage via induction of antioxidant defense. Therefore, contents of geniposide and crocetin derivatives should be both considered for hepatoprotective efficacy of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis.

Keyword

Gardenia jasminoides Ellis; Hepatoprotective; Geniposide; Crocin-1; Crocetin; Histopathological examination

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Alkaline Phosphatase
Animals
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Gardenia
Glutathione
Hepatocytes
Iridoid Glycosides
Liver*
Mice*
Rupture
Alanine Transaminase
Alkaline Phosphatase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Glutathione
Iridoid Glycosides