A STUDY ON EFFECTS OF GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE FROM SILKWORM ON CCL4-INDUCED MOUSE LIVER INJURY

To assess the hepatoprotective activity of Glutathione S-transferase(GSTsw), extracted and purified from silkworm, in experimental acute mice liver injury and explore mechanisms. Mice were divided into five groups: control group, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) group, and three treatment groups that received CCl4 and GSTsw at doses of 0.083mg.g(-1), 0.0415 mg.g(-1) and 0.0207 mg.g(-1) for 3 days. ALT in serum, GST, SOD and T-AOC in liver tissue homogenate, and changes in liver pathology in the five groups were studied. CCl4 administration led to pathological and biochemical evidence of liver injury as compared to untreated controls. GSTsw administration led to significant protection against CCl4-induced changes in liver pathology. It was also associated with significantly lower serum ALT levels, higher GST square SOD and T-AOC level in live tissue homogenate. Thus, GSTsw showed protective activity against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.