Therapeutic effects of Hovenia dulcis Thunb extract on CCl₄ induced liver and kidney damage in rats

Hovenia dulcis Thunb (HDT) has been known folk medicine and has been used as therapeutic drug in the treatment of liver disease. Also it has been used as a detoxifying agents for alcoholic poisoning and promoting diuresis. However, there has not been any study on therapeutic effect of Hovenia dulcis extract on CCl₄ induced liver and kidney damage in rats. In this study, we report on therapeutic effects of Hovenia dulcis extract on CCl₄ induced liver and kidney damage in rats. Rats were divided into four groups of eighteen animals. Control group (DW) was administrated with distilled water 2.5 mL/kg per peritonial administration and then CCl₄ group (CCl) was administrated CCl₄ 2.5 mL/kg per peritonial administration, CCl₄+ HDT extract group (CCl₄+ HDT) was administrated HDT extrat (100 mg/kg) after CCl₄ 2.5 mL/kg administration, CCl₄+ Silymarin group (CCl₄+ Sily) was administrated Silymarin (50 mg/kg) after CCl₄ 2.5 mL/kg administration. The complete blood cell (CBC) count of RBC, WBC, PCV, Hb, MCH, MCV, MCHC and blood chemistry profile of AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, Total choloesterol, Tryglyceride, Total bilirubin, Amylase, Glucose, BUN, Creatinine, Lipase and pathologic changes were observed for 7 days after administration of D.W., CCl₄, CCl₄+ HDT extract, CCl₄+ Silymarin. The results are as follows: 1. RBC and PCV were significantly (p < 0.01) increased in all groups compared to D.W. but hemoglobin, MCH, MCV and MCHC were not showed significant difference during experimental periods. 2. AST, ALT, T-cholesterol, T-bilirubin, TG were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in all groups on day 3 compared to D.W. and were normal on day 7. 3. ALP was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in CCl₄+ HDT group on day 3 but Amylase was not showed significant difference during experimental periods. 4. BUN was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in CCl₄ group on day 7, but CCl₄+ HDT group and CCl₄+ Sily group were normal. Creatninie was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in CCl₄ group on day 3 and normal on day 7 but CCl₄+ HDT group and CCl₄+ Sily group were not showed significant difference during experimental periods.