Effects of aqueous extracts from Panax ginseng and Hippophae rhamnoides on acute alcohol intoxication: An experimental study using mouse model

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAcute alcohol intoxication (AAI) is a frequent emergency, but therapeutic drugs with superior efficacy and safety are lacking. Panax ginseng (PG) and Hippophae rhamnoides (HR) respectively has a wide application as a complementary therapeutic agent in China for the treatment of AAI and liver injury induced by alcohol. We investigated the effects of aqueous extracts from PG and HR (AEPH) on AAI mice and identified its underlying mechanisms.Materials and methodsModels of AAI were induced by intragastric administration of ethanol (8 g/kg). Seventy-two Specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Kunming mice were randomly divided into six groups: normal group, positive control group, AEPH of low dosage (100 mg/kg) group, AEPH of medium dose (200 mg/kg) group, AEPH of high dosage (400 mg/kg) group and model group. The mice were treated with metadoxine (MTD, 500 mg/kg) and AEPH. Thirty minutes later, the normal group was given normal saline, while the other groups were given ethanol (i.g., 8 g/kg). The impact of AEPH was observed. In the same way, another seventy-two Kunming mice were randomly divided into six groups equally. The blood ethanol concentration at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 6 h after ethanol intake was determined by way of gas chromatography. The activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and microsomal ethanol oxidase (EO) in liver, and the concentration of β-endorphin (β-EP), leucine-enkephalin (LENK) in the brain were determined by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA).ResultsAEPH markedly prolonged alcohol tolerance time and shortened sober-up time after acute ethanol administration. AEPH decreased blood ethanol levels in six tests after ethanol intake. The 7-day survival rate of AEPH group was obviously superior to model group. AEPH increased the activities of ADH, ALDH, and decreased EO activity in liver. The crucial find was that AEPH markedly decreased β-EP and LENK concentration in the brain.ConclusionsAEPH can markedly increase the levels of ADH, ALDH, decrease EO activity in liver and decrease the concentration of β-EP and LENK in the brain to against acute alcohol intoxication in mice.

Aqueous extracts from Panax ginseng and Hippophae rhamnoides (AEPH) could prolong alcohol tolerance time , shorten sober-up time and prolong survival time of acute alcohol intoxication in mice. It was more effective than metadoxine. The potential mechanisms were likely mediated by increasing the levels of ADH and ALDH in liver and decreasing the concentration of β-EP and LENK in brain to against acute alcohol intoxication in mice.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (238 K)Download as PowerPoint slide