Protective Properties of Laggera alata Extract and its Principle Components Against D-Galactosamine-Injured Hepatocytes

Laggera alata extract (LAE) was quantitatively analyzed, and its principle components isochlorogenic acids were isolated and authenticated. Protective properties of LAE were studied using a D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced injury model in neonatal rat hepatocytes and a D-GalN-induced acute liver damage model in mice. Meanwhile, the effect of isochlorogenic acids derived from LAE on D-GalN-induced hepatocyte injury were also measured in vitro. LAE at concentrations of 10–100 μg/ml significantly reduced cellular leakage of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and improved cell viability. The isochlorogenic acids (4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid) at concentrations of 1–100 μg/ml also remarkably improved viability of hepatocytes. The oral treatment of LAE at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg markedly reduced the serum AST and ALT activity of mice and resulted in significant recovery of hepatocytes in liver sections.