Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of total flavonoids from Psophocarpus
tetragonolobus (L.) DC. seeds (TFP) in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The antioxidant activity of TFP in vitro was determined
by scavenging capacities against DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl free radicals as well as reducing power. Mice with carbon
tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury were used to assess the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of TFP in vivo.
The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and
gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and total bilirubin (TB) level in serum, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA)
and glutathione (GSH) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the liver and kidney of mice
were assayed using standard procedures. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of TNF-α in hepatic
tissue. Meanwhile hepatic histopathological examination was observed. Results: TFP exhibited strong antioxidant activity.
TFP at all investigated doses significantly lowered the levels of serum ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, TC, TG and TB and the
levels of hepatic and renal MDA, enhanced the activities of SOD and CAT, and greatly inhibited the expression of TNF-α in
mice with acute liver injury induced by CCl4, thus ameliorating the liver damage in mice. Conclusion: TFP has a significant
hepatoprotective effect on CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice, possibly by scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid
peroxidation and TNF-α expression.

Key words: Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC., antioxidant activity, hepatoprotective activity, tumor necrosis factor-&alpha, (TNF-α)