CGX, a traditional Korean medicine ameliorates concanavalin A-induced acute liver injury

Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced acute liver injury model is well established as a model of T cell-mediated liver injury, in which T cells and NKT cells exert their cytotoxicity towards liver cells. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of CGX, a traditional Korean medicine against Con A-induced liver injury and its underlying mechanisms. After pretreatment with CGX (po, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) or distilled water once daily during 7 days, Con A (15 mg/kg) was injected intravenously. Thereafter serum level of AST and ALT, lipid peroxidation and cytokines in the liver tissue, and immune cell population in blood and the spleen were analyzed. CGX treatment reduced serum ALT, AST level in a dose-dependent manner. CGX treatment significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation and glutathione depletion in the liver tissue, and also lowered tissue levels of tumor necrotic factor-α and interferon-γ. CGX treatment attenuated the compositional alteration of Tc, Th, NKT, and B cells in blood as well as in the spleen. These results suggest that CGX has hepatoprotective property against Con A-induced liver injury through antioxidant action and immune regulation.