Abstract:

Objective     To investigate the protective effect of gynostemma pentaphyllum makino polysaccharide(PGP)containing mouse serum on HepG2 cells injured by a 70% carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) saturated medium. Methods     PGP-containing mouse serum was collected from PGP-treated mice. HepG2 cells used in the experiment were divided into the following groups: the control group, the CCl4 injury group and the PGP-containing mouse serum protection groups with different concentrations of PGP. A 70% CCl4 saturated medium was used to induce HepG2 cell injury in all groups except the control group.  Cell morphological change was observed under a brightfield microscope, cell viability by 4-methyl- tetrazolium (MTT) chromatometry, the degree of cell damage by measuring supernatant alanine aminotransferase (GPT) and aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) activities, and expression level of the cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) protein by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the CCl4 injury group, the PGP-containing serum protection groups had significant morphological improvement, and their survival rate was significantly higher(P<0.05). ALT and AST activities in the supernatant were significantly decreased (P<0.05) while expression level of CYP2E1 was increased.The protective effect was the most obvious in the 48mg·kg-1·d-1 PGP-containing serum protection group. Conclusion     Pre-treatment of PGP-containing mouse serum is shown to possess a significant protective effect on HepG2 cells injured by CCl4 especially at 4-8mg·kg-1·d-1.

Key words: Gynostemma pentaphyllum makino; Drug-containing serum; HepG2 cells; Carbon tetrachloride; Apoptosis