Protective effects of medical ozone combined with traditional Chinese medicine against chemically-induced hepatic injury in dogs

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of medical ozone (O-3) combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Yigan Fuzheng Paidu Capsules (YC) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury in dogs. METHODS: Thirty healthy dogs were divided randomly into five groups (n = 6 in each group), namely control, oleanolic acid tablet (OAT), O-3, YC and O-3 + YC, given either no particular pre-treatment, oral OAT, medical ozone rectal insulfflation every other day, oral YC, or oral YC plus medical ozone rectal insulfflation every other day, respectively, for 30 consecutive days. After pre-treatment, acute hepatic injury was induced in all dogs with a single-dose intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. General condition and survival time were recorded. The biochemical and hematological indexes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase/ alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT), serum total bilirubin (TBIL), prothrombin time (PT), blood ammonia (AMMO), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured after CCl4 injection. Hepatic pathological changes were also observed. RESULTS: Compared to the other four groups, the changes of group O-3 + YC dogs' general conditions (motoricity, mental state, eating, urination and defecation) could be better controlled. In group O-3 + YC the survival rates were higher (P < 0.05 vs group control). AST/ALT values were kept within a normal level in group O-3 + YC. Hepatic histopathology showed that hepatic injury in group O-3 + YC was less serious than those in the other four groups. CONCLUSION: Medical ozone combined with TCM YC could exert a protective effect on acute liver injury induced by CCl4. (c) 2007 WJG. All rights reserved.