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In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Astragalus polysaccharides against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatocyte damage in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry volume 38, pages 871–881 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

The present study is aiming at evaluating the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatocyte and liver injury in common carp in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, APS (200, 400 and 800 μg/ml) was added to the carp primary hepatocytes before (pre-treatment), after (post-treatment) and both before and after (pre- and post-treatment) the incubation of the hepatocytes with CCl4 at 8 mM in the culture medium. APS at concentrations of 200, 400 and 800 μg/ml significantly improved cell viability and inhibited the elevation of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamate oxalate transaminase (GOT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly increased the reduced level of superoxide dismutase (SOD). In vivo administration of APS at the doses of 1.5 and 3 g/kg in the diet for 60 days prior to CCl4 intoxication significantly reduced the elevated activities of GPT, GOT and LDH and increased the reduced levels of total protein and albumin in the serum; meanwhile, the reduced levels of SOD, glutathione and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were markedly increased and the MDA formation was significantly inhibited in liver tissue. Overall results proved the hepatoprotective action of APS, which is likely related to its antioxidant activity. The results support the use of APS as a hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent in fish.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (2009DFA32620) and Wuxi Municipal Bureau on Science and Technology (CZE00906) and Central Public-Interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund (2011JBFC05).

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Affiliations

  1. Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, China

    Rui Jia & Guojun Yin

  2. Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding and Aquaculture Biology of Freshwater Fishes, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 9 East Shanshui Rd., Wuxi, 214081, China

    Liping Cao, Pao Xu & Guojun Yin

  3. Research Institute for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Irrigation, Anna Light 8, Szarvas, 4440, Hungary

    Galina Jeney

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  1. Rui Jia
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  2. Liping Cao
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  3. Pao Xu
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  4. Galina Jeney
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  5. Guojun Yin
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Correspondence to Pao Xu or Guojun Yin.

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Jia, R., Cao, L., Xu, P. et al. In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Astragalus polysaccharides against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatocyte damage in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish Physiol Biochem 38, 871–881 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-011-9575-z

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Keywords

  • Astragalus polysaccharides
  • Carbon tetrachloride
  • Hepatocyte
  • Liver
  • Hepatoprotection
  • Antioxidant
  • Cyprinus carpio