Abstract: Objective:To investigate the protective effect of panaxdiol saponins(PDS) on the acute liver damage(ALD) of the rats induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl₄), and to clarify its mechanism. Methods:Fifty rats were randomly divided into control group (the rats were given normal saline), model group (the ALD models were established and given normal saline) and low,middle, and high doses (10, 20,and 40 mg·kg^-1) of PDS groups, and there were 10 rats in each group.The general state of the rats in various groups was observed. The levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL),and total protein(TP) of the rats in various groups were detected; ELISA method was used to detecet the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12 (IL-12)and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in liver tissue homogenate of the rats in various groups; Western blotting method was used to detecet the expression levels of protein kinase B (AKT)and p-protein kinase B(p-AKT) in liver tissue of the rats in various groups. Results:Compared with control group, the levels of ALT,AST and TBIL of the rats in model group were increased(P<0.01),and the level of TP was decreased(P<0.01); the levels of IL-12, IL-6 and TNF-α were increased (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the hepatic function of the rats in different doses of PDS groups were obviously improved, the levels of ALT, AST and TBIL in liver tissue of the rats in different doses of PDS groups were decreased(P<0.01), the levels of TP were increased(P<0.01);the levels of IL-12, IL-6 and TNF-α in liver tissue of the rats were decreased (P<0.01); the expression levels of AKT protein in liver tissue of the rats were decreased (P<0.01) and the expression level of p-AKT was increased(P<0.01). Conclusion:PDS has the protective effect on ALD,and its mechanism may be related to reducing the expressions of inflammatory factors and affecting the p-AKT-AKT signal pathway.

Key words: panoxadiol, liver injury, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, protein kinase B