Abstract:

Four polysaccharides (DHP1, DHP2, DHP3 and DHP4) were isolated and purified from young seedlings of
Dendrobium huoshanense by hot water extraction and DEAE cellulose anion exchange chromatography. The objective of
this study was to investigate the protective effects of the four polysaccharides on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute
liver injury in mice. The results showed that oral administration of DHP1 significantly decreased the levels of serum alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), reduced the content of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and
restored the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the CCl4-treated mice, suggesting that DHP1 is
a potential hepatoprotective compound in D. huoshanense.

Key words: Dendrobium huoshanense, polysaccharide, carbon tetrachloride, liver injury