Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Piper puberulum(Benth.) Maxim water extract(PTE) on carbon tetrachloride(CCl₄)induced acute liver injury and to explore the possible mechanism.Fifty KM mice were randomly divided into five groups(n=10 in each) including blank group,model group(induced by 0.01 g/kg,0.15% CCl₄ vegetable oil solution),PTE groups(0.5 g/kg and 1.0 g/kg) and positive control group(bifendate 0.15 g/kg).Alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),malondialdehyde(MDA) content,superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity,tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α),liver wet weight index and HE staining of liver tissue pathological changes were detected in each group.Compared with blank group,the serum ALT,serum AST,liver index,MDA content and serum TNF-α increased significantly(P<0.01),SOD decreased significantly(P<0.01) and hepatic tissue pathology injured significantly(P<0.01) in model group.Compared with model group,the serum ALT decreased significantly in PTE high dose group and positive control group.The serum AST,liver index,MDA content and serum TNF-α decreased significantly(P<0.01 or P<0.05),SOD increased significantly(P<0.01) and hepatic tissue pathology relieved significantly in PTE low dose group,PTE high dose group and positive control group.In conclusion, P.puberulum water extract attenuated the CCl₄-induced acute liver injury and the underlined mechanisms were,at least partly,due to their anti-oxidant actions and inhibitions of TNF-α production.

Key words: Piper puberulum (Benth.) Maxim, antioxidant, radical, liver injury, carbon tetrachloride