Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of crude polyphenols from Insect tea (CPIT) on
hepatic damage induced by acetaminophen in ICR mice. CPIT could increase body weight and reduce liver weight and liver
index after induction of liver injury in mice. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lacate
dehydrogenase, triglycerides, and blood urea nitrogen were decreased, while total cholesterol and albumin were increased
in mice treated with CPIT as compared with liver injury controls. CPIT also resulted in a reduction in IL (interleukin)-6,
IL-12, TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α and IFN (interferon)-γ in comparison with control mice. It could increase the mRNA
expression of IκB-α, Mn-SOD, Cu/Zn-SOD, CAT and GSH-Px, and decrease the mRNA expression of NF-κB, iNOS and
COX-2. From the above findings, we can conclude that CPIT has a preventive effect on hepatic injury in vivo.

Key words: Insect tea, polyphenol, acetaminophen, hepatic injury, expression