Protective effect of oleanolic acid against chemical-induced acute necrotic liver injury in mice.

AIM To evaluate the protective effect of oleanolic acid (OA) against necrotic liver injury. METHODS Mice were pretreated with OA (200 mumol.kg-1, sc for 3 d), and subsequently administered hepatotoxicants. Liver damage was assessed by quantifying serum activities of alanine aminotransferase and iditol (sorbitol) dehydrogenase, as well as by histopathological examination. RESULTS OA pretreatment dramatically diminished CCl4-, bromobenzene-, acetaminophen-, phalloidin-, and cadmium-induced liver injury, and decreased the hepatotoxicity of D-galactosamine plus endotoxin, thioacetamide, furosemide, and colchicine. However, OA had no effect on the toxicity of dimethylnitrosamine, alpha-amanitin, chloroform, and allyl alcohol. CONCLUSION OA protects against many, but not all, hepatotoxicants, and the hepatoprotective effect of OA may involve multiple mechanisms.