Abstract: Auriculatone sulphate(AS)was a prodrug of auriculatone that is a natural hepatoprotective compound.In order to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of AS,an acetaminophen(APAP)-induced acute liver injury model of mice was established by intraperitoneal administration of 300 mg/kg APAP.The hepatoprotective effect of AS(25 mg/kg)was initially evaluated by determining its inhibitory effect on the increases of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)induced by APAP.The protective effect of AS against oxidative damage was assessed by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)and glutathione(GSH)and testing the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)in the liver tissue.Histochemical analysis of liver tissue was also conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of AS.The results showed that intravenous pretreatment with AS significantly prevented the liver tissue from APAP-induced injury,and retained the serum ALT,AST and LDH levels close to those of the control group(P<0.001).When compared with the APAP group,AS pretreatment significantly decreased the hepatic level of MDA(P<0.001),and increased the hepatic level of GSH as well as the activity of SOD(P<0.001).Histochemical examinations showed that AS treatment significantly improved the pathological changes of liver tissues.In conclusion,intravenous administration of AS effectively protected mouse against APAP-induced liver injury and the protection might involve its inhibition of liver tissue oxidative damage.

Key words: auriculatone sulfate, intravenous injection, acetaminophen-induced liver injury, hepatoprotection