RESUMO
Abstract The leaves of Syringa oblata Lindl., Oleaceae, had been extensively used as a folk medicine to treat various infections, heal inflammations, icteric hepatitis and acute mastitis. The study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of S. oblata leaves ethanol extract against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in primary hepatocytes and mice with the indicator of glutathione S-transferase alpha 1. The hepatoprotective effects of S. oblata leaves ethanol extract were evaluated on the basis of liver histopathology and biochemical parameters as well as hepatic oxidative stress markers. The results showed that CCl4 negatively modulated biochemical parameters and liver antioxidant activities. However, the use of S. oblata leaves ethanol extract restored altered-serum biochemical parameters and liver antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, the trends in S-transferase alpha 1 were similar to alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase level, and S-transferase alpha 1 was suggested to be a marker for the evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of S. oblata leaves ethanol extract. Histopathological examination showed that CCl4 causes significant hepatic injury relative to control group. The above findings suggested that S. oblata leaves ethanol extract has hepatoprotective effects against CCl4-induced hepatic injury and S-transferase alpha 1 may be an indicator to evaluate the protective effects of S. oblata leaves ethanol extract.
RESUMO
ABSTRACT In this study, we optimized the baicalin water extraction process from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Lamiaceae (a traditional Chinese medicine). Orthogonal test design L9(3)4 was used to analyze the optimization of water extraction process of baicalin from S. baicalensis. The effect of solid-liquid ratio, extraction time and soaking time on the yield of baicalin were investigated and optimized by orthogonal test. High-performance liquid chromatography was employed for the determination of extraction yield of baicalin. Analysis of variance was carried out to study the effects of the above three factors. The results showed that solid-liquid ratio plays a significant role in attaining maximum extraction yields of baicalin. However, the other two factors had some effect (not statistically significant) on the extraction yield of baicalin. Conclusively, the optimum experimental conditions such as the solid-liquid ratio (1:12), extraction time (30 min) and soaking time (1 h) for the water extraction of baicalin were proposed which can provide the maximum extraction yield of baicalin. In addition, the score based on the content of baicalin and total solid residues yield were used as evaluation indexes for baicalin uterus suppositories evaluation.