Effects of aqueous extract isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum against oxidative stress in rat primary hepatocytes

Herbal medicines are increasingly being utilized to treat a wide variety of disease processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of aqueous extract from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae). Changkil (CK). to affect cellular response in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes to t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. CK-treated cells showed an increased resistance to oxidative challenge. as revealed by a higher percent of survival capacity in respect to control cells. CK added prior or simultaneously with I-BHP reduced enganced lipid peroxidation measured as production of malondialdehyde and enhnaced intracellular reduced glutathinoe depletion by t-BHP. Furhtermore. CK protected from the t-BHP-induced intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species assessde by montioting dichlorodihydrofluorescein fluorescence. it can be concluded that CK exerts an antioxidant action insice the cell. responsible for the abserved modulation of the cellular response to oxidative challenge. and CK have a marked anitioxdative and hepatoprotective potency.