Abstract: Objective: To explore the protective effect of water extract from Mactra chinensis muscle (WEMC) on CCl4-induced acute hepatic injury of mice. Methods: Mice were administered orally with the extract at the daily doses of 0.15, 0.45 g/(kg ·d)and 0.90 g/(kg ·d). Eight days later, 6% CCl4 were intraperitoneally injected at the dose of 1 mL/kg. At 24 h after the injection, liver index and the contents of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb) and globulin (Glb) as well as A/G were investigated. On the other hand, the pathological changes in the hepatic tissues of each group were determined. Results: WEMC at each dose significantly lowered ALT in serum (P <0.01). Meanwhile, the hepatic histology was also improved in three WEMC groups. Moreover, a significant increase in A/G was observed in each WEMC group when compared with the model group (P <0.01). WEMC had a pronounced promoting effect on the recovery of mouse liver function but had little effect on liver index. Under a light microscope, it could be observed that WEMC had a marked effect on improving hepatic injury in mice. Conclusion: EMC can protect CCl4-induced liver damage of mice.

Key words: Mactra chinensis extract, CCl4, mice, hepatoprotective function