Hepatoprotective effects of ginseng intestinal metabolite IH-901 on chemical-induced hepatic damage

Abstract

Hepatoprotective effects of white ginseng extract (WGE), and IH-901 (20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol) derived from intestinal metabolite of ginsenoside Rb, were studied using two experimental animal models with chemical-induced hepatic damage. Administration of WGE (200 and 500 mg/kg) and IH-901 (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 mM/ kg) significantly decreased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in acute hepatitic mice induced by CCl4. Administration of WGE (100 mg/kg) and IH-901 (0.02, 0.04, and 0.08 mM/kg) significantly decreased AST and ALT levels in acute hepatitic rats induced by D-galactosamine. AST and ALT levels of IH-901 groups decreased. These results suggested WGE and IH-901 may have protective effects against chemical-induced hepatic damage.