Abstract

In the present study, in vitro hepatoprotective effect of Schisandra chinensis extract (SCE) was evaluated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)–induced hepatotoxicity in common carp. SCE (100, 200, and 400 µg ml^-1) was added to the carp primary hepatocytes before (pre-treatment), after (post-treatment), and both before and after (pre and post-treatment) the exposure of the hepatocytes to 8 mM CCl₄ in the culture medium. Results showed thatexposure of the primary cultured carp hepatocytes to 8 mM CCl₄ for 4 h caused cytotoxicity, manifested by loss of cell viability and significantly elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamate oxalate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and significantly reduced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the supernatant. Pre-treatment and pre and post-treatment of the hepatocytes with SCE significantly reduced the elevated levels of LDH, GOT, GPT and MDA; increased the reduced activities of SOD and GSH-Px and increased the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Post-treatment of the hepatocytes with SCE did not show significant effects on the tested parameters except GPT. The results suggest that SCE is a potent hepatoprotective agent that could protect fish hepatocytes against the acute injury and this ability might be attributed to its antioxidant potential. The results also imply that SCEcan be potentially used for preventing rather than curing liver diseases in fish.

Key words: Carp primary hepatocytes, hepatoprotection, antioxidant, Schisandra chinensis.