Treatment of chronic liver injuries in mice by oral administration of ethanolic extract of the fruit of Hovenia dulcis

The present study examined the effects of an ethanolic extract of the fruit of Hovenia dulcis (EHD) on chronic hepatitis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice. CCl4 (5%; 0. 1 ml/10 g body weight) was given twice a week for 9 weeks, and mice received EHD throughout the entire experimental period. Plasma activities of GPT and GOT, and hepatic levels of malondialdehyde were significantly lowered in mice treated with EHD as compared to mice treated with CCl4 only. Histological evaluation showed that EHD could attenuate the liver fibrosis and necrosis caused by CCl4. RT-qPCR analysis also showed that EHD treatment decreased hepatic collagen (alpha 1)(I) and collagen (alpha 1)(III) mRNA expressions. Chronic CCl4 treatment caused liver injuries in mice, characterized by an increase in hepatic methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) 2A gene expression, and decreased MAT1A gene expression. EHD significantly reduced the changes in MAT gene expression due to the chronic CCl4 treatment. These results clearly demonstrate that the EHD can reduce hepatic injuries in mice induced by CCl4.