Effects of Yukmi, an Herbal Formula, on the Liver of Senescence Accelerated Mice (SAM) Exposed to Oxidative Stress

The effects of Yukmi (Decoction of six plants including rehmannia), an herbal formula, were studied on liver oxidant damage induced by paraquat (PQ) administered intravenously in the senescence accelerated mice (SAM-P/8). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase as two major antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation levels were determined for six days. Data show that the activities of hepatic SODs and catalase were increased by oral administration of Yukmi extracts following PQ pretreatment. Herbal medicine effectively blocked the PQ-induced effects on liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. For the histopathological changes in SAM-P/8 liver, Yukmi extracts inhibited PQ-induced damage to the hepatic mitochondria and their membranes. Data suggest that Yukmi extracts may be useful in protecting against oxidative damage.