Abstract: Objective To investigate the hepatotoxicity of aqueous extract of Polygoni Multiflori Radix (AEPMR) and major monomer components in it with larvae zebrafish. Methods 72 hpf liver fluorescence transgenic larvae zebrafish (lfabp:dsRed) were treated with different doses of AEPMR and its main monomer components for 2 d respectively with acetaminophen (APAP) as positive drug. Larval zebrafish survival situation, liver morphology, change in size of liver and yolk sac retention, and the liver fluorescence are major factors to evaluate hepatotoxicity. Results Zebrafish all died at 2 mg·mL-1 AEPMR, 2 μg·mL-1 emodin (EM) after 1 d administration and all died at 20 μg·mL-1 emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (EG) after 2 d administration. There was no death in the rest doses and other monomer component groups. 10 μg·mL-1, 20 μg·mL-1 aloe-emodin (AE) and 8 mM APAP induced liver degeneration, reduced liver size (P <0.05 or P <0.01) and delayed yolk sac absorption (P <0.05 or P <0.01) in larval zebrafish. The liver fluorescence also decreased in larval zebrafish treated with 10 μg·mL-1、20 μg·mL-1 AE and 8 mmol·L-1 APAP, whereas AEPMR and other monomer component groups had no obvious effect on larval zebrafish liver. Conclusion 10 μg·mL-1, 20 μg·mL-1 AE induced liver toxicity in larval zebrafish, AEPMR and other monomer component groups do not show obvious liver damage.

Key words: liver fluorescence transgenic zebrafish, aqueous extract of Polygoni Multiflori Radix, hepatotoxicity