Abstract: Objective: To explore the hepatoprotective effect of crude peanut polysaccharide (CPPS) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- or alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice. Methods: carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and commercial liquor were employed respectively to establish CCl4- and alcohol-induced acute liver injury mouse models. The mice were sacrificed with cervical dislocation to measure their liver indexes. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver, as well as alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels in serum were measured. Histopathological changes in liver tissues were examined to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of CPPS. Results: CPPS treatment at the doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg exhibited an obvious reduction in MDA content, liver index, and ALT and AST levels (P ＜ 0.01), as well as a significant inhibition effect on the decrease in SOD activity (P ＜ 0.01) in mice suffering from CCl4-induced acute liver injury and attenuated hepatic tissue injury. While CPPS treatment at the dose of 50 mg/kg revealed similar effect on MDA, liver index, ALT, AST and SOD activity (P ＜ 0.01) in mice suffering from alcoholic acute liver injury, and promoted the recovery of hepatic tissue injury. Conclusions: CPPS has significantly hepatoprotective effect on CCl4- and alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Key words: crude peanut polysaccharide, carbon tetrachloride, alcohol, acute liver injury, hepatoprotective effect