Abstract: Objective To investigate the protective effect of phenylethanol glycosides from Cistanche deserticola against α-naphthalene isothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestatic liver disease in mice. Methods C57 mice were orally administered with 125, 250, 500 mg·kg^-1 of phenylethanol glycosides from Cistanche deserticola and 100 mg·kg^-1 of diammonium glycyrrhizinate for seventeen consecutive days, once daily. 80 mg·kg^-1 of ANIT was administered by a single gavage two hours after administration on the fifth day to induce a model. Blood and tissue samples of mice were collected after two days of continuous intervention. Levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (ALB), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin (TBIL), bile acid (TBA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected, while the histopathological changes of the liver were observed. Results Compared with the model group, the levels of ALT, AST, AKP, TBA, TBIL and MDA in ANIT model mice were significantly decreased in each group of phenylethanol glycosides from Cistanche deserticola (P<0.05). The activities of ALB, GSH-Px and SOD were significantly increased in the medium and high dose groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Cistanche deserticola may help protect against ANIT-induced cholestatic liver disease by improving cell membrane permeability and eliminating free radical oxidation.

Key words: Cistanche deserticola, phenylethanol glycosides, α-naphthalene isothiocyanate, cholestasis, mice