Aqueous Extract from Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae Alleviates Immunological Liver Damage by Selectively Facilitating the Dysfunction of Liver‐infiltrating Lymphocytes

The effect of an aqueous extract from Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae (RSG) on liver injury induced by delayed-type hypersensitivity to picryl chloride in mice has been studied. In in-vitro co-culture of non-parenchymal cells (NPC) and hepatocytes isolated from liver-injured mice, pretreatment of NPC, but not parenchymal hepatocytes, with the extract resulted in concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of NPC-induced hepatocyte damage. A significant reduction of in-vitro hepatotoxicity, as measured by inhibition of serum transaminase elevation, was also observed in NPC isolated from mice treated with RSG extract. RSG extract facilitated apoptosis in NPC from liver-injured mice but not in parenchymal hepatocytes. The results suggest that RSG extract protects against liver injury by selective induction of apoptosis in liver-infiltrating cells, mainly activated T lymphocytes. Such characteristics will help provide a novel strategy not only for treatment of liver diseases, but also for regulation of the immune response.