Hepatoprotective effects of Paecilomyces tenuipes against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes

Hepatoprotective effects of Paecilomyces tenuipes against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes

Paecilomyces tenuipes (PT), one of the Ascomycetes family, has been used for medicinal purposes due to its broad pharmacological activities. The present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of PT water extracts against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. When the extract of PT was directly added into the culture medium at 1, 2, a n d 5 m g / m l , t h e e x t r a c t s n o t o n l y r e d u c e t h e C C l 4 -induced elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase, and lipid peroxide, but also protect cultured hepatocytes from CCl 4 -induced reduction of reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. In addition, the effects of PT water extracts on cytochrome P450 enzymes were relatively marginal, indicating that the hepatoprotective effects of PT extract against CCl 4 -induced toxicity might not be due to the inhibition of CCl 4 activation. In conclusion, the PT extracts were effective in protecting against CCl 4 induced hepatotoxicity in hepatocyte cultures, at least in part, by scavenging free radicals, and by modulating enzyme systems involved in cellular oxidative stress.

Paecilomyces tenuipes (PT), one of the Ascomycetes family, has been used for medicinal purposes due to its broad pharmacological activities. The present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of PT water extracts against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. When the extract of PT was directly added into the culture medium at 1, 2, a n d 5 m g / m l , t h e e x t r a c t s n o t o n l y r e d u c e t h e C C l 4 -induced elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase, and lipid peroxide, but also protect cultured hepatocytes from CCl 4 -induced reduction of reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. In addition, the effects of PT water extracts on cytochrome P450 enzymes were relatively marginal, indicating that the hepatoprotective effects of PT extract against CCl 4 -induced toxicity might not be due to the inhibition of CCl 4 activation. In conclusion, the PT extracts were effective in protecting against CCl 4 induced hepatotoxicity in hepatocyte cultures, at least in part, by scavenging free radicals, and by modulating enzyme systems involved in cellular oxidative stress.