Abstract:Here, the protective effect of Perna viridis extract against acute liver injury was explored. A carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mouse model of acute liver injury was established, and levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), as well as the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in hepatic tissues, were determined. Two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis was used to analyze the differentially expressed proteins in the liver, and pathological damage in liver tissue was observed by pathological sectioning. The results showed that the groups treated with P. viridis extract at different doses showed a significant decrease in serum AST and ALT levels and the content of MDA, TNF-α, and IL-6, as well as a pronounced increase in the content of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, and GSH (p<0.01) as compared with levels observed in the model group. The 2D-electrophoresis analysis showed 97 significantly deviating protein spots, four overexpressed proteins, and one protein exhibiting low expression in the model group, and three overexpressed proteins in the P. viridis-treated group. Additionally, microscopic pathologic examination revealed decreased liver damage in the P. viridis-treated group. These results suggested that the P. viridis extract exerted adequate protective effects against CCl4-induced acute liver injury.
