Effect of fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats.

This study is aimed to evaluate the protective effect of fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix (AGR) with Monascus purpureus strain on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. The activities of liver marker enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and the levels of lipid peroxidation were increased when CCl(4) was treated but these parameters were significantly decreased by fermented AGR treatment. CCl(4) treatment exhibited decrease in serum concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and free fatty acids, and these were also decreased by fermented AGR administration. The level of serum leptin was significantly lower in fermented AGR administration than that in normal control group. CCl(4) treatment significantly increased the concentration of liver triglyceride. The current study observed significant elevations of the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels in the liver homogenate, mitochondrial, and microsomal fractions of CCl(4) control group compared with normal control group. CCl(4) treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of plasma and hepatic glutathione, but these reductions were significantly increased by fermented AGR administration. CCl(4) induced the marked hepatocytes necrosis and fatty accumulation around the central veins. Accordingly, fermented AGR may be an ideal candidate for the hepatoprotective effect in animal model.