Protective Effect of Cynanchum Wilfordii Root Crude Extract on Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Toxicity

The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Cynanchum wilfordii root crude extract (CWR) on acetaminophen (AAP) overdose-induced liver damage. We tested the hepatoprotective effect of CWR in a normal liver cell line (Chang cell) using cell viability assay and western blot analysis. The protective effect of CWR was determined using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry in vivo. Our results showed that the CWR significantly prevented AAP–induced cell death through the extra cellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation. AAP-induced liver damage in mice was significantly reduced when CWR was ad-ministered at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day (for 7 days) in saline solution. CWR regulated the expressions of inflam-mation-related proteins such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). These data suggest that CWR presents hepatoprotective effect via the activation of ERK1/2 and the down-regulation of TNF-α and iNOS, which are closely associated with anti-inflammatory responses. Moreover, these findings suggest that CWR can act as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of liver damage.