Abstract: The hepatoprotective effect of polysaccharides isolated from the dried stems of Dendrobium candidum by hot water extraction was evaluated on alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice. Mice were intragastrically administrated with 50% alcohol to induce alcohol-induced acute liver injury. Thereafter, the mice were gavaged with the polysaccharides for 14 consecutive days. At the end of the experiment, blood was taken by removing eyeballs, and then the mice were sacrificed with cervical dislocation to harvest their liver tissues. Red blood cell (RBC), haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, white blood cell (WBC) and hemoglobin were measured using a blood cell counter. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and triglyceride (TG) content in liver, as well as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and TG levels in serum were measured. Histopathological liver changes were examined. The results showed that RBC and WBC levels, the serum levels of ALT, AST and TG, and SOD, GSH-Px activity and TG content in liver, and liver index significantly differed (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) between the control and model groups. Dendrobium candidum polysaccharides significantly reduced liver index, RBC, WBC, ALT, AST and TG levels as well as enhanced the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in the liver of mice suffering from alcohol-induced acute liver injury (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The polysaccharides promoted recovery from hepatic tissue injury. To conclude, this study suggests that Dendrobium candidum polysaccharides have a significant hepatoprotective effect on alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Key words: Dendrobium candidum, alcohol, acute liver injury, hepatoprotective effect