Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin
Online ISSN : 1347-5215
Print ISSN : 0918-6158
ISSN-L : 0918-6158
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Effects of Extract Derived from Eriobotrya japonica on Liver Function Improvement in Rats
Yutaka NishiokaSaburo YoshiokaMasahiko KusunoseTailin CuiAtuhide HamadaMasahide OnoMituhiko MiyamuraShojiro Kyotani
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2002 Volume 25 Issue 8 Pages 1053-1057

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Abstract

Eriobotrya japonica is considered a medicinal plant, and its leaves (Eriobotrya folia) have been used to treat skin diseases, as well as to relieve inflammation, pain, coughing, and sputa. In our evaluation of the pharmacological efficacy of the seed extracts, constituents of the seeds were found to contain the unsaturated fatty acids linolenic and linoleic acids and the sterol β-sitosterol in the 70% EtOH and the MeOH extracts. The seed extracts were orally administered to rats with dimethylnitrosamine-induced hepatopathy, and blood L-asparate aminotransferase (AST) and L-alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, liver retinoid level, and hydroxyproline level were measured. Liver fibrosis rates calculated after Azan-Mallory staining and evaluation of the liver function-improving effects of extracts were showed that AST, ALT, and hydroxyproline levels and liver fibrosis rates were significantly lower, and retinoid levels were significantly higher in hepatopathic rats treated with 70% EtOH and MeOH extracts of the seed than in water-treated control rats. This suggests that the positive effect on liver function of the extracts varies depending on the extracting solvent used. 70% EtOH and MeOH extract of the seeds inhibited the development of liver fibrosis in hepatopathic rats, thus exhibiting potent improvement. The unsaturated linolenic and linoleic acids and the sterol β-sitosterol contained in these extracts may also contribute to the improvement of liver function.

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© 2002 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
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